» 


^rs^> 


mz 


:c^^* 


ss>> 


ifi.  t¥  SifPnlngfra/ 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


^*, 


'* 


\. 


BX  9211  .M56  W47  1907 
Westminster  Presbyterian 

The  h?^/'''^"^^^^^^^'  Winn 
The  history  of  Westmi] 


Pj"Asli:yJLA 


T-T^n  fhnrrh  of 


.nster 


r"; 


.r? 


A 


•V" 


\ 


f  P'v.X 


y^M 


i^yU.i^^tL(^Xyt^^    ^a^2i'^'^'^<-^-<I-«0.0 


< 


:0 


^  e 


5< 


Z 


NOV  ->^2  19] 


THE  HISTORY 

OF 

Westminster  Presbyterian 
Church 

OF 

Minneapolis,  Minnesota 

And  of' the  Celebration  of  its  Fiftieth  Anniversary 


I  857— August-- 1 907 


Prepared  by 
THE  CLERK  OF  SESSION     \Jr\0\  ■ 
and  Published  by 
THE  COMMITTEE  OF  ARRAXCil^MENTS 


Review  Publishing  Company 
Minneapolis 


'Y  '  HIS  boo}(  is  dedicated  to  the  memor})  of  the 
-*-  Codl^  pioneers,  n>ho,  in  humble  faith,  estab- 
lished it  upon  a  foundation  of  Orthodox  and  Evan- 
gelical Christianity ;  and  to  the  pastors  non>  living, 
and  the  memory  of  the  one  who  has  entered  into  rest, 
rvho  have,  fcp  their  faithful  pastoral  oversight  and 
Dulpit  ministrations,  done  so  much  to  enable  the  suc- 
cessors of  those  pioneers,  under  the  blessing  and  guid- 
ance of  Cod,  to  build  upon  that  foundation  the  beau- 
tiful superstructure  ruhich   we  love. 


PREFACE. 

At  the  annual  congregational  meeting,  held  in  April,  1905^ 
a  resolution  was  adopted  to  suitably  celebrate  the  fiftieth  an- 
niversary of  the  establishment  of  this  Church.  By  the  same 
resolution,  the  arrangements  for  this  celebration  were  en- 
trusted to  a  committee  to  be  appointed  by  the  Chairman  of 
the  meeting,  J.  B.  Gilfillan,  of  which  committee  he  should  be 
chairman.  Pursuant  to  this  resolution,  the  following  addi- 
tional members  of  the  committee  were  appointed,  viz:  the 
pastor,  John  E.  Bushnell,  D.  D.;  E.  L.  Carpenter,  J.  R,  Gor- 
don, T.  B.  Janney,  George  PI.  Miller,  C.  H.  Pettit,  J.  S.  Por- 
teous  and  Charles  T.  Thompson. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  committee,  held  in  the  spring  of  1907, 
it  was  decided  that  a  complete  history  of  the  Church,  during 
the  Hity  years  of  its  existence,  should  be  prepared.  The  com- 
mittee delegated  to  the  Clerk  of  Session  this  important  duty,- 
because  it  believed,  that,  because  of  his  official  connection 
with  the  Church,  which  had  lasted  for  twenty-seven  years,  and 
because  of  his  familiarity  with  its  records  and  activities,  he 
could,  more  readily  than  any  one  else,  secure  the  necessary 
data  and  prepare  therefrom  such  a  history.  He  accepted  the 
work,  so  laid  upon  him,  reluctantly  and  with  a  full  sense  of 
his  responsibility.  The  work  of  preparation  has  been  great; 
but  the  task  while  an  exceedingly  delicate  one,  has  been 
a  labor  of  love. 

Mistakes  maj',  and  probably  will  be  found  in  his  work;  but 
the  historian  can  truly  say  that  he  has  endeavored  to  make 
the  story  complete  and  accurate,  and  to  do  full  justice  to  all, 
who  have  contributed  to  make  our  Church  what  it  is. 

As  it  has  not  been  possible  for  the  other  members  of  the 
committee  to  review  and  revise  the  work  before  sending  it  to 
press,  the  historian  assumes  the  full  responsibility  therefor, 
except  for  such  portions  as  are  accredited  to  others,  who, 
have  prepared  them  at  his  request. 

He  desires  at  this  time  to  acknowledge  his  indebtedness  to» 
the  many,  especially  among  the  women  of  the  Church  and 
congregation,  who  have  rendered  him  valuable  assistance  in 
his  work. 


Andrew  W.  Oliver, 
First  Deacon  of  the  Church 


OTestmiuster  ipresb^terian  dburcb  ot 
fiDinneapoUs. 

CHAPTER  I. 
f  t3  ©rigin  an&  £arlp  History. 

"Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  of  ^Minneapolis, 
has  just  completed  the  fiftieth  year  of  its  existence. 
Its  remarkable  growth  and  its  present  commanding 
position  and  influence,  all  the  more  commanding  when 
contrasted  with  its  feeble  and  unpromising  beginning, 
inspire  its  members  to  break  forth  into  hymns  of  praise 
in  this  Jubilee  year  and  to  join  in  the  exclamation, 
"Behold!  what  God  hath  wrought!" 

The  history  of  this  Church  and  of  its  growth  and 
development,  run  parallel  with  the  history  and  develop- 
ment in  the  Northwest  of  the  denomination,  to  which 
it  belongs ;  and  Westminster  Church  has,  under  the 
blessing  and  guidance  of  God,  had  a  large  part  in  the 
development  of  the  denomination  in  this  section  of  our 
country. 

In  speaking  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  the  Synod 
and  the  Presbytery,  in  connection  with  the  earlier  his- 
tory of  W'estminster  Church,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind 


that  we  mean  the  Old  School  branch  of  the  church 
and  its  judicatories;  for  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Minneapolis,  which  was  connected  with  the 
New  School  branch  of  the  denomination,  has  the 
honor  of  being  the  first  organized  Presbyterian  Church 
within  the  bounds  of  what  is  now  tlie  City  of  Minne- 
apolis. 

We  are  indebted  for  this  account  of  the  early  history 
of  our  Church,  in  a  large  degree,  to  a  historical  sermon 
by  its  former  pastor,  the  beloved  Robert  F.  Sample,. 
D,  D.,  so  recently  deceased,  which  was  preached  to  the 
congregation  of  the  Church  in  March,  1869,  and  was 
afterwards  published,  at  the  request  of  the  officers  and 
members  of  the  Church ;  and  to  an  account  of  the  early 
history  of  the  Church  prepared  by  Elder  Louis  H. 
Williams  in  1871. 

In  1853,  the  first  representative  of  the  Old  School 
branch  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  the  Rev.  J.  G. 
Riheldaffer,  commenced  his  labors  in  the  City  of  St. 
Paul.  Soon  after,  he  was  joined  by  men  of  like  spirit,, 
such  as  H.  Maltby,  Charles  Thayer,  J.  C.  Caldwell  and 
A.  PI.  Kerr,  who  came  to  plant  the  standard  of  the 
cross  on  the  borders  of  what  was  then  a  great  wilder- 
ness. Of  these  pioneers,  the  only  one  who  survives  to 
the  present  time  is  Rev.  Cliarles  Tha5'er,  D.  D.,  who 
after  an  unusually  long  and  useful  professional  life, 
has  been  honorably  retired,  and  is  spending  his  declin- 
ing years  with  his  faithful  wife  in  this  cit}-. 


Father  Thayer,  as  he  is  always  called  by  those,  who 
have  the  honor  and  privilege  of  knowing  him  person- 
alh",  is  one  of  God's  saints.  His  life  has  been  one  of 
constant  self-sacrifice  and  devotion  to  God's  service; 
his  influence  is  now,  and  always  will  be  felt,  through- 
out the  Synod  of  JMinnesota  and  adjoining  Synods. 
This  Church  was  honored  by  having  him  to  preside 
at  the  Communion  service,  held  in  connection  with  the 
dedication  of  our  present  church  building.  To  such 
Godly  and  self-denying  pioneers,  as  were  he  and  his  co- 
laborers  in  the  early  history  of  this  Synod,  is  due  in  a 
large  measure  the  present  honorable  position  of  our 
denomination  in  this  and  adjoining  synods. 

In  this  connection,  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  the 
name  of  Rev.  J.  G.  Riheldaffer,  another  of  those  pioneer 
missionaries,  is  borne  worthily  in  our  midst  by  his  son, 
John  H.  Riheldafifer,  who  w^as  for  a  time  in  Westmin- 
ster Church,  but  is  now  a  Ruling  Elder  in  Grace  Pres- 
b3terian  Church. 

In  the  Fall  of  1855,  the  Synod  of  Iowa  erected  the 
Presbytery  of  St.  Paul,  consisting  of  Rev.  J.  G.  Rihel- 
daffer, Rev.  Charles  Thayer  and  Rev.  J.  Sterratt,  pas- 
tors of  the  churches  at  St.  Paul,  Hudson  and  Prescott 
respectively.  The  total  number  of  communicants  in 
these  three  pastoral  charges,  only  one  of  which  was 
however  within  the  bounds  of  the  present  Synod  of 
Minnesota,  was  fifty-nine,  viz.,  in  St.  Paul,  thirty-two : 
in  Hudson,  eleven :  in  Prescott.  fifteen. 


The  General  Assembly,  which  met  at  Rochester,  N. 
Y.,  in  1860,  erected  the  Synod  of  St.  Paul,  embracing 
the  Presbyteries  of  St.  Paul,  Chippewa  and  Lake  Su- 
perior. The  new  Synod,  thus  created,  embraced  not 
only  the  entire  State  of  Minnesota,  but  also  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  State  of  Wisconsin  and  all  of  Avhat  is 
now  the  States  of  North  and  South  Dakota,  lying  east 
of  the  Missouri  River.  Robert  F.  Sample,  afterwards 
pastor  of  this  Church,  was  a  commissioner  to  this  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  having  been  sent  to  it  by  a  Pennsylva- 
nia Presbytery,  of  which  he  was  then  a  member.  He 
records  that  grave  objections  were  urged  by  members 
of  the  General  Assembly  to  the  name  suggested  for 
the  new  Synod,  because  it  was  not  in  accordance  with 
general  usage  to  name  a  Synod  for  a  city. 

Rev.  Dr.  Boardman,  a  commissioner  from  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Philadelphia,  advised  that  the  name  "Min- 
nesota" be  given  to  the  new  synod,  instead  of  the  name 
of  St.  Paul ;  but  that  was  deemed  to  be  inadvisable,  in- 
asmuch as  the  New  School  General  Assembl)'-  had  al- 
ready a  synod  by  the  name  of  jNIinnesota.  It  was  al- 
ways the  feeling  of  Dr.  Sample  that  the  suggestion 
made  by  Dr.  Boardman  was  prophetic  of  the  union  of 
the  Old  and  New  School  Presbyterian  Churches,  which 
was  afterwards  consummated  at  Pittsburg,  in  1870. 

The  Synod  of  St.  Paul,  thus  created,  consisted  of 
nineteen  ministers  and  twenty-four  churches  ;  nine  only 
of  these  churches  were  in  Minnesota,  and  they  had  a 
total  membership  of  only  one  hundred  eighty-seven. 


The  Westminster  Church  of  Minneapolis  was  or- 
ganized August  23,  A.  D.  1857,  by  a  committee  of  the 
Presb)'^tery  of  St.  Paul  consisting  of  Rev.  J.  G.  Rihel- 
dafit'er  and  Rev.  H.  Maltby.  The  organization  was 
effected  at  a  service  held  in  the  Free  Will  Baptist 
Church,  which  was  then  located  at  the  corner  of  Wash- 
ington Avenue  and  First  Avenue  North  (called  Utah 
Street).  The  following  persons  were  enrolled  as  mem- 
bers, to-wit,  Andrew  W.  Oliver  and  his  wife,  Sarah  E. 
Oliver,  who  came  on  certificates  from  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Minneapolis ;  Louis  H.  Williams  and 
his  wife  Tabitha  P.  Williams  and  their  daughters. 
Ellen  Mary  Williams  and  Mrs.  Deborah  M.  Pettit,  who 
were  received  on  certificates  from  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Big  Spring,  in  Newville,  Pa. ;  Joseph  C. 
Williams,  and  his  wife,  Sarah  J.  Williams,  who  were 
received  on  certificate  from  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Shippensburg,  Pa. ;  eight  persons  in  all  composed 
this  Church,  as  originally  organized.  Of  these  char- 
ter members,  only  one  survives  to  the  present  time, 
Mrs.  Deborah  M.  Pettit.  Mrs.  Tabitha  P.  Williams, 
who  had  been  called  East  by  her  parent's  illness,  died 
in  Newville,  Pa.,  July  6,  1866,  and  was  buried  in  the 
old  churchyard  there,  among  her  ancestors.  It  is  re- 
corded of  her  that  she  was  one  of  the  most  active  and 
helpful  members  of  the  little  Church,  always  prompt 
to  recognize  the  stranger ;  entertaining  and  manifesting 
a  deep  concern  for  her  unconverted  friends,  and  inter- 


ested  in  all  that  pertained  to  the  work  of  God.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1867,  Ellen  IMary  Williams,  also  entered  into 
rest. 

At  the  organization  of  the  Church,  ]Mr.  Andrew  W. 
Oliver,  who  had  been  a  ruling  elder  in  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Minneapolis,  was  duly  elected  and 
installed  a  ruling  elder  in  Westminster  Church. 

Upon  the  same  day  on  which  this  Church  was  or- 
ganized, the  Presbytery  also  organized  a  church  in 
the  Village  of  St.  Anthony.  That  Church  is  now 
known  as  the  Andrew  Presbyterian  Church  of  Minne- 
apolis. 

The  Church  was  incorporated  under  the  Revised 
Statutes  of  Minnesota  on  the  6th  day  of  April,  1858, 
by  adoption  of  a  certificate  as  provided  by  law,  and 
the  election  of  H.  D.  Beman,  W.  K.  McFarlane,  Eu- 
gene M.  Wilson,  A.  Bradford,  C.  H.  Pettit  and  J.  C. 
Williams,  as  a  Board  of  Trustees  under  the  name  and 
style  of  "The  Trustees  of  the  Westminster  Presbyte- 
rian Church  of  Minneapolis." 

In  this  connection,  it  is  interesting  to  note,  that  C. 
H.  Pettit,  has,  from  the  date  of  the  first  election  in 
1858  down  to  the  present  time,  acted  continuously  as 
a  trustee  of  this  Church ;  during  the  greater  part  of  the 
time  having  had  the  honor  to  be  (as  he  now  is)  the 
Chairman  of  the  Board.  Always  deeply  interested  in 
the  work  of  the  Church  and  its  welfare,  a  careful  guar- 
dian of  its  financial  interests  and  deeply  solicitous  for 


its  highest  honor.  jNIr.  Pettit  has  always  adorned  this 
office  which  he  has  held  so  long  and  has  been,  in  the 
judgment  of  those  who  have  known  him  in  that  ca- 
pacity, the  ideal  trustee.  A  large  part  of  the  success 
of  the  Church,  on  its  temporal  side,  has  been  due  to  the 
interest  and  efficiency  of  the  honored  Chairman  of  the 
Board.  On  this  anniversary  year,  the  Church  delights 
to  bear  this  tribute  to  him. 

The  certificate  of  incorporation  of  the  Church  adopt- 
ed April  fi,  1858,  was  very  meagre.  It  was  recorded  in 
Boole  B.  of  Bonds  on  page  431,  in  the  Office  of  the 
Register  of  Deeds  of  Hennepin  County,  Minn.  No 
amendment  was  made  to  the  articles  until  1905,  when 
the  congregation,  at  the  annual  meeting,  adopted  an 
amended  article,  providing  that  the  denomination,  to 
which  the  church  belongs  and  according  to  whose  doc- 
trine and  polity  its  property  is  to  be  held  and  its  affairs 
administered,  is  the  "Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America." 

During  the  three  months  immediately  following  its 
organization,  the  Church  was  without  any  preaching 
with  the  exception  of  a  single  Sabbath,  on  which  occa- 
sion the  services  were  conducted  by  Rev.  J,  G.  Rihel- 
dalYer.  On  the  Gth  of  December,  1857,  JMr.  Benjamin 
C.  Dorrance,  a  graduate  of  the  Danville  Theological 
Seminary  and  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Lu- 
zerne, commenced  to  supply  this  pulpit,  the  services 
being  held  for  the  first  three  weeks  in  the  building  of 


the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  then  located  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Sixth  Avenue  South  (then  called  Cataract 
Street)  and  Fifth  Street.  From  January  1st,  until 
April  11,  1858,  the  services  were  held  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  building,  which  was  located  on  Sec- 
ond Avenue  South  (then  called  Helen  Street)  be- 
tween Fourth  and  Fifth  Streets.  On  April  11,  1858, 
the  place  of  meeting  was  changed  to  Fletcher's  Hall, 
on  Second  Avenue  South  between  First  and  Second 
Streets.  While  occupying  the  Methodist  Church,  the 
Trustees  paid  $25.00  per  month  for  the  use  of  the  build- 
ing. This  was  about  all  the  money  the  congregation 
could  raise;  for  the  records  of  the  Church  recite  that 
the  most  it  was  able  to  pay  Mr.  Dorrance,  for  all  of 
his  services,  was  one  hundred  dollars,  most  of  which 
was  given  b}'^  Elder  Oliver. 

Mr.  Dorrance  closed  his  labors  in  connection  with 
this  Church  on  April  18,  1858.  He  came  to  Minneapo- 
lis in  feeble  health  and,  after  five  months  of  earnest 
and  highly  acceptable  service,  he  returned  to  the  East, 
where  he  soon  after  died.  It  is  recorded  of  him  that 
he  was  a  pleasant  and  forcible  preacher  and  that,  by 
his  public  ministrations,  as  well  as  by  his  cheerful  dis- 
position and  exemplary  Christian  deportment,  he  en- 
deared himself  to  all. 

Just  before  Mr.  Dorrance  left,  on  the  11th  of  March, 
1858,  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  admin- 
istered to  the  congregation  of  Westminster  Church,  by 


Elder  Louis  H.  Williams, 
Charter   Member    of    Church 


Rev.  Charles  Thayer,  -vvho  was  then  stationed  at  Hud- 
son, Wis. 

At  this  time  there  were  received  into  the  communion 
of  the  Church,  Mr.  John  A.  Hayes  and  wife ;  Mrs.  Eliz- 
abeth Gilmore  and  Mr.  John  Hepp  from  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Minneapolis ;  Mr.  Samuel  McLean 
and  wife  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  New  York 
Mills,  N.  Y.;  Mr.  W.  W.  McNair  from  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  of  Sparta,  N.  Y.,  and  I\Irs.  A.  C.  Taylor 
from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Carlisle,  111. 

Not  long  after  uniting  with  the  Church,  Mrs.  Taylor 
became  Mrs.  Morgan.  x\s  Mrs.  Morgan  she  was 
known  and  loved  by  many  who  are  now  members  of 
this  Church.  It  was  her  strong  desire  to  live  to  join 
in  the  celebration  of  this  anniversary;  but  this  pleasure 
was  denied  her,  and  she  entered  into  rest  only  a  few 
months  ago.  By  her  fidelity  and  devotion  to  the  in- 
terests of  the  Church,  her  loyal  support  of  its  pastors, 
and  by  her  wise  counsel  and  gracious  Christian  deport- 
ment, Mrs.  Morgan  probably  contributed  as  much  as 
any  one  member  to  the  success  of  this  Church. 

At  the  service  on  the  14th  of  March,  1858,  which 
has  just  been  referred  to,  Mr.  Louis  H.  Williams,  who 
had  served  as  a  ruling  elder  in  churches  in  Mifflintown, 
Carlisle  and  Dickinson,  in  Pennsylvania,  was  elected 
and  enrolled  a  ruling  elder. 

Shortly  after  the  departure  of  Mr.  Dorrance,  a  prop- 
osition was  made  bv  the  Presbvterian  Church  in  St. 


10 

Anthony,  now  called  the  Andrew  Presbyterian  Church, 
to  unite  with  that  church  in  the  support  of  a  minister. 
After  due  notice,  a  congregational  meeting  was  held  to 
take  into  consideration  this  proposal.  The  offer  was 
accepted  and  an  invitation  was  soon  after  extended  to 
Rev.  Levi  Hughes  of  Logansport,  Indiana,  to  act  as 
stated  supply  for  both  congregations  for  one  year. 
Toward  his  salary  the  Church  of  St.  Anthony  agreed 
to  pay  $400.00  and  Westminster  Church  $300.00.  A 
request  was  made  that  the  Board  of  Home  J^Iissions 
make  a  grant  of  an  additional  sum  of  $300.00. 

Mr.  Hughes  accepted  the  call  and,  on  the  26th  of 
September,  commenced  his  labors  in  Minneapolis.  He 
served  the  church  for  a  little  more  than  one  year,  dur- 
ing which  time  twelve  persons  Avere  received  into 
membership  on  certificates  and  five  on  confession  of 
faith. 

It  is  stated  of  Mr.  Hughes  that  he  was  a  preacher  of 
far  more  than  ordinary  powers,  but  his  voice  was 
harsh,  his  manner  careless,  and  his  appearance  unpre- 
possessing. He  preached  with  intense  earnestness  and 
often  with  deep  emotion.  He  never  used  a  manu- 
script, but  his  sermons  showed  careful  thought  and 
preparation.  His  sermons  were,  however,  character- 
ized by  strength  rather  than  elegance. 

As  one  of  his  hearers  described  it,  it  reminded  him 
of  a  rough  mountain  stream,  which  gathers  force  as  it 
advances,  giving  notice  of  its  approach  from  afar  and 


11 

over-leaping  every  barrier  that  lies  in  its  way.  So 
great  was  his  intellectual  force  and  theological  attain- 
ments, that  he  commanded  the  respect  of  his  opponents 
and  at  the  same  time  secured  the  admiration  of  his 
friends. 

His  power  was  that  of  a  preacher  and  not  as  a  pas- 
tor. In  the  latter  capacity  he  did  not  excel,  his  social 
qualities  being  ver}'^  ordinary  and  his  visitations  being 
made  very  difficult  through  a  defect  in  his  hearing. 

When  he  took  charge  of  the  Church,  it  was  agreed, 
at  a  meeting  of  Session,  that  he  should  visit  all  the 
members  of  the  congregation  twice  a  year.  This  he 
did,  and  he  usually  catechized  the  children  and  prayed 
with  the  families,  making  his  visits  brief  but  as  profit- 
able as  possible. 

During  this  time  the  church  services  were  held  in 
Woodman's  Hall,  now  part  of  the  National  Hotel  on 
Washington  Avenue  South.  The  attendance  was 
highl)^  encouraging.  The  Sabbath  services  were  usu- 
ally held  in  the  afternoon,  and  many  who  were  con- 
nected with  other  churches  embraced  the  opportunity 
of  attending  upon  the  ministry  of  this  popular  preacher. 

Mr.  Hughes  insisted  with  great  earnestness  and  fre- 
quency upon  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship.  The 
people  were  both  numerically  and  financially  weak; 
but  he  maintained  that  the  work  was  practicable,  and 
should  be  entered  upon.  God  commanded  them  to  go 
forv/ard,  and  it  was  theirs  to  obey,  he  said  to  them. 


12 

"You  may  accomplish  much  by  prayer.  You  can 
pray  out  the  lumber,  the  mortar,  and  the  stone,  and, 
when  the  material  is  accumulated,  you  can  pray  the 
building  up.  God  never  assigned  to  a  praying  people 
a  work  which  he  did  not  accomplish  through  them." 

Mr.  Hughes  did  not  remain  to  see  this  undertaking 
completed;  but  the  people  all  admitted  that,  for  the 
early  erection  of  their  little  sanctuary,  they  were  great- 
ly indebted  to  the  earnest  and  stimulating  appeals  of 
their  minister. 

At,  or  about,  the  expiration  of  his  first  year's  labor 
in  the  Westminster  Church,  Mr.  Hughes,  announced, 
with  much  feeling  and  quite  unexpectedly  to  the  con- 
gregation, his  determination,  on  account  of  increasing 
deafness,  to  terminate  his  ministry  among  them.  The 
sorrow  of  the  people  was  great.  Appreciating  the 
difficulties  under  which  he  labored,  they  yet  earnestly 
desired  the  continuance  of  his  services.  The  following 
day  several  ladies  called  upon  their  minister,  offering 
to  relieve  him,  as  far  as  possible,  of  pastoral  labors,  by 
their  personal  attentions  to  the  sick  and  strangers.  He 
was  greatly  touched  by  this  manifestation  of  sympa- 
thy and  love,  accepted  their  proffered  assistance  and 
revoked  his  decision.  But  he  was  ere  long  constrained 
to  yield  to  his  growing  infirmity ;  and,  during  the  win- 
ter of  1859-60,  Mr.  Hughes  preached  but  little,  al- 
though he  retained  his  connection  with  the  Church  as 
a  Home  Missionary  until  the  Spring  of  1860,  when  he 


13 

removed  to  Bloomington,  Ind.  Under  his  direction 
and  that  of  the  elders,  the  Sabbath  services  were  main- 
tained throughout  the  winter  of  1859-60,  Mr.  H.  D. 
Beman,  an  intelHgent  lawyer  and  active  Christian,  fre- 
quently reading  a  printed  sermon.  The  same  service 
was  occasionalh'  performed  also  by  Messrs.  A.  W. 
Oliver,  J.  C.  Williams,  and  W.  W.  McNair.  The 
weekly  prayer-meetings  were  also  continued  without 
interruption. 

By  the  joint  request  of  the  clmrches  of  St.  Anthony 
and  Minneapolis,  Rev.  James  A.  McKee  visited  the  two 
congregations  in  May,  1860,  and  was  subsequently  en- 
gaged as  a  stated  supply  for  six  months.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  this  time  the  engagement  was  renewed ;  but, 
at  the  close  of  the  year,  this  church  again  became  va- 
cant, Mr.  McKee  having  accepted  a  call  to  the  pastor- 
ate of  the  Church  in  St.  Anthony,  where  he  continued 
to  labor  with  much  acceptance  for  several  years,  great- 
ly beloved  by  all  the  people. 

About  the  time  of  Mr.  McKee's  arrival  in  Minneapo- 
lis, the  congregation  began  an  effort  to  built  a  house  of 
worship,  with  encouraging  prospects  of  success.  El- 
der L.  H.  Williams  collected  about  five  hundred  dol- 
lars in  the  East;  this  included  generous  contributions 
made  by  Rev.  George  Morris,  and  his  sister  of  Silver 
Springs,  Pa.  The  remainder  Avas  obtained  at  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  and  Newville,  Pa.  $500  was  also  received 
from  the  Church  Extension  Committee,  now  known  as 


14 

the  Board  of  Church  Erection,  and  the  remainder  of 
the  funds  required  for  the  purpose  was  contributed  by 
the  congregation.  The  church  edifice,  a  plain  yet  com- 
fortable and  sufficiently  commodious  building,  was 
erected  at  an  expense  of  nearly  two  thousand  dollars. 
It  was  located  on  Fourth  Street  between  Nicollet  and 
Hennepin  Avenues,  where  the  Vendome  Hotel  now 
stands.  It  was  a  happy  day  when  the  "little  flock" 
met  for  the  first  time  in  their  own  sheltering  fold;  a 
day  to  be  marked  with  a  white  stone ;  and  they  erected 
their  memorial  in  grateful  recognition  of  the  Divine 
goodness.  The  Church  was  dedicated  March  17,  1861. 
The  Rev.  J-  G.  Riheldaffer  preached  the  sermon,  from 
Hebrews  vi.  19,  "Which  hope  we  have  as  an  anchor 
of  the  soul,  both  sure  and  steadfast,  and  which  en- 
tereth  into  that  within  the  vail." 

At  this  time  the  number  of  communing  members 
was  fort3'-three ;  and  the  house  of  worship  was  dedi- 
cated about  three  and  a  half  years  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Church.  The  Lord's  Supper  was  admin- 
istered in  the  new  church  on  the  following  Sabbath,  at 
which  time  three  persons  were  received  on  confession 
of  faith  and  two  persons  on  certificates.  Mr.  Charles 
Hepp,  Mv.  Wm.  P.  Anken}^  and  Mr.  Samuel  Stough 
were  admitted  to  membership  on  profession  of  faith ; 
Mrs.  Ellen  Conover  was  received  by  letter  from  the 
Second  Presb3'terian  Church  of  Cranberr}^,  N.  J.,  and 
Mrs.  ?»Iargaret  B.  Sidle  from  the  German  Reformed 
Church  of  Lebanon,  Pa. 


15 

During'  the  summer  of  1861  the  pulpit  again  became 
vacant.  On  the  21th  of  August,  in  that  year,  a  call 
was  extended  to  the  Rev.  L.  G.  Hay,  a  returned  mis- 
sionary from  Northern  India,  vhose  preaching  seems 
to  have  made  a  A-ery  pleasant  impression  on  the  con- 
gregation.    This  call  was  declined. 

The  Rev.  Robert  Strong,  a  graduate  of  the  Theologi- 
cal Seminary  at  Princeton,  and  a  licentiate  of  the  Pres- 
byter}^ of  xA-lbau}',  N.  Y.,  arrived  here  on  the  21st  of 
October.  He  supplied  the  Church  for  two  Sabbaths, 
after  which  he  was  unanimously  invited  to  preach 
statedl}^  for  six  months.  Mr.  Strong's  coming,  at  a 
time  when  there  seemed  to  be  no  prospect  of  securing 
the  services  of  a  minister  through  the  approaching 
winter,  was  hailed  as  an  omen  of  good  and  was  an 
occasion  of  devout  thanksgiving  on  the  part  of  all  the 
people.  A  year  later,  Oct.  29,  1862,  Mr.  Strong  was 
ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Church  by  the 
Presbytery  of  St.  Paul.  He  was  the  hrst  minister,  who 
had  sustained  this  relation  to  this  Church ;  those  who 
preceded  him  having  been  stated  supplies.  The  year 
succeeding  this  installation  was  not  marked  by  as 
large  accessions  to  the  Church,  as  were  the  years  that 
had  gone  before.  It  was  a  seed  time  rather  than  a  har- 
vest, and  yet  immediate  results  were  encouraging.  The 
standard  of  piety  had  increased,  a  new  interest  in  the 
Sabbath-school  was  awakened,  and  there  were  indica- 
tions of  greater  blessings  in  reserve  for  God's  people. 


16 

The  week  of  prayer  in  January,  1864,  was  one  of 
special  interest,  and  the  services  were  continued 
through  several  weeks.  Mr.  Strong  labored  with  great 
zeal,  and  much  beyond  his  strength.  On  a  Sabbath 
morning,  having  uttered  a  few  of  the  opening  sentences 
of  his  sermon,  he  remarked,  with  an  expression  of 
countenance  which  revealed  great  physical  pain,  "I 
must  stop ;"  and  never  attempted  to  preach  again.  As 
the  result  of  these  anxious  and  exhausting  labors,  eight 
persons  were  added  to  the  Church  on  confession  of 
Christ. 

October  18,  1863,  Charles  E.  Vanderburg  and  J.  C. 
Williams  were  unanimously  elected  ruling  elders  in 
this  Church,  and  ordained  and  installed  by  the  pastor, 
December  20,  1863.  The  next  March,  Mr.  L.  H.  Wil- 
liams, who  had  served  as  Clerk  of  the  Session  for  sev- 
eral years,  resigned  this  position  on  account  of  failing 
sight,  and  Judge  Vanderburg  was  appointed  in  his 
stead.  Mr.  Strong's  services,  as  stated  supply  and  pas- 
tor, continued  about  two  years  and  a  half.  After  his 
removal  several  were  added  to  this  Church,  who  re- 
ferred their  religious  impressions  and  conversion  to 
the  preaching  of  this  beloved  minister. 

As  a  preacher  Mr.  Strong  was  intellectual,  rather 
than  emotional.  His  sermons  were  written  with  much 
care,  and  delivered  with  animation.  His  labors  were 
varied,  unremitted  and  exhausting.  Entering  upon  his 
ministrv'-  here  in  delicate  health,  burdened  Avith  a  sense 


-^ 


ilinr  mSBf 


la  ] 


~.l.M.rr-n  _ 


'l^b 

b 

t] 

1 1^   <^ 

r 

1 

•=-t 

sMi 


h 


kli 


^i 


5  « 

^  E? 

I 

u  ss 

H    ^ 

"5    1. 

p  ii 

a.  jj 

CQ'g 

^1 


OS  ^ 


17 

of  responsibility,  deeply  anxious  for  the  spiritual  ele- 
vation and  increase  of  the  Church,  finding  much  work 
to  be  performed  and  not  receiving  the  co-operation  of 
the  Church  in  as  large  a  measure  as  Christian  obliga- 
tion and  the  necessities  of  the  time  demanded,  he  soon 
exhausted  his  limited  physical  strength,  and  was  laid 
aside  from  the  work  to  which  he  had  devoted  himself 
with  great  earnestness  and  hearty  consecration.  He 
made  the  development  of  the  Church's  benevolence  a 
matter  of  much  study  and  enthusiastic  effort.  He  in- 
sisted with  fervor  and  importunity  upon  the  consecra- 
tion of  worldly  substance  to  the  Lord,  and  we  are 
thankful  that,  in  relation  to  this,  he  did  not  labor  in 
vain. 

Mr.  Strong  also  endeavored  to  increase  the  efiticien- 
<:y  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  He  proposed  to  dis- 
tribute the  work  of  the  Board,  and  five  committees 
were  appointed,  to  each  of  which  some  specified  ser- 
vice was  assigned. 

Mr.  Strong's  ill  health  made  it  necessary  for  him  to 
desist  from  all  pastoral  labor,  and  he  requested  leave 
of  absence  for  several  months,  hoping,  after  a  season 
of  rest,  to  resume  his  work.  He  opened  correspon- 
dence with  Mr.  Robert  A.  Condit,  then  visiting  friends 
in  Wisconsin,  and  soon  effected  an  arrangement  for 
the  supplying  of  the  pulpit  during  his  proposed  ab- 
sence. 

In  the  Spring  of  1864,  the  Church,  for  the  first  time, 


18 

ceased  to  receive  aid  from  the  Board  of  Home  INIis- 
sions. 

About  this  time,  we  have  notice  of  a  congregational 
meeting  held  Ma}'  30,  1864,  at  which  it  was  agreed  to 
add  one  hundred  dollars  to  the  pastor's  salary,  and  to 
grant  him  leave  of  absence  until  the  meeting  of  the 
Presbytery  in  the  Fall.  At  the  same  meeting  an  in- 
vitation was  extended  to  Mr.  Condit  to  supply  the 
Church  during  Mr.  Strong's  absence,  which  invitation 
was  accepted,  Mr.  Strong  spent  a  few  weeks  in  Min- 
neapolis and  the  vicinity,  then  returned  to  his  home  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.  His  health  did  not  improve  sufficiently 
to  warrant  a  resumption  of  pastoral  labor,  and,  in  the 
vSpring  of  1865,  he  offered  his  resignation  as  pastor  of 
this  Church.  Greatly  to  the  regret  of  all  concerned, 
the  relation,  which  had  proved  so  pleasant  and  profit- 
able, was  dissolved.  In  the  summer  of  18G5,  a  call  was 
given  to  Mr.  Condit,  which,  after  several  mouths  de- 
lay, he  accepted.  He  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the 
gospel  ministry  at  a  meeting  of  Presbytery  held  in  St. 
Paul,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  this  Church  June, 
1866.  On  the  latter  occasion  Rev.  J.  G.  Riheldaffer 
presided,  the  Rev.  Rol^ert  W.  Condit  of  Oswego,  N. 
Y.,  the  father  of  the  new  pastor,  preached  the  sermon 
and  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Rev.  Robert 
Sutton  of  St.  Paul,  delivered  the  charge  to  the  people. 
These  installation  services  were  ver}-  impressive 
throughout,  whilst  a  peculiar  interest  attached  to  the 


19 

charge  made  to  the  pastor  by  his  venerable  father. 

Mr.  Condit's  labors  in  this  Church,  including  his  ser- 
vices previous  to  his  installation,  extended  through 
about  three  years  and  a  half.  In  this  time  nineteen 
persons  were  received  to  the  Church  on  confession  of 
faith,  and  fifty  persons  on  certificate.  The  total  mem- 
bership was  increased  from  seventy  to  one  hundred 
and  twenty-tv/o.  In  the  autumn  of  1866,  the  church 
building  was  much  enlarged  and  improved.  The  tow- 
ers were  erected  and  the  building  extended.  The  im- 
provement cost  about  five  thousand  dollars.  Of  this 
sum  jMr.  Condit  raised  one  thousand  dollars  in  the 
East,  and  the  most  of  the  remainder  was  contributed 
by  the  congregation.  The  next  summer  ^Ir.  AV.  P. 
Ankeny,  who  had  previously  contributed  three  hun- 
dred dollars,  generously  proposed  to  release  the  Church 
from  the  payment  of  five  hundred  and  sixty-five  dol- 
lars, being  the  amount  due  him  for  building  material, 
on  condition  that  the  congregation  would  paint  the 
Church  edifice  and  make  other  small  improvements. 
Through  the  efforts  of  the  ladies  of  the  congregation 
the  amount  requisite  for  this  purpose  was  promptly 
obtained,  and  so  the  work  was  completed.  Chairs  for 
the  use  of  the  choir  were  donated,  and  other  contribu- 
tions were  made  by  Mr.  Condit's  sister,  including  a 
handsome  set  of  pulpit  furniture.  This  latter  was 
given  to  the  Fifth  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  Dr. 
Sample's   son-in-law.    Rev.   John    B.    Donaldson,    was 


20 

pastor,  upon  the  completion  of  our  second  church 
building. 

Mr.  Condit  was  a  laborious  pastor,  and  an  accepta- 
ble preacher.  Remarkably  considerate  and  kind,  he 
endeared  himself  to  all  his  people,  whilst  he  was  spe- 
cially beloved  by  the  aged,  the  afflicted  and  the  poor. 
His  labors  were  far  greater  than  was  generall}'^  sup- 
posed, and  his  health  was  much  impaired  by  them. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  held  in  this  Church, 
on  the  24th  of  December,  1867,  against  the  remon- 
strance of  a  large  portion  of  the  congregation,  Mr. 
Condit's  pastoral  relation  to  this  people  was  dissolved. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  congregation,  held  on  Monday 
evening,  Jan.  27,  1868,  moderated  by  Rev.  D.  C.  Lyon, 
District  Missionary  of  this  State,  a  call  was  made  for 
the  pastoral  services  of  Rev.  Robert  F.  Sample,  who 
was  then  pastor  of  the  Church  in  the  City  of  St.  An- 
thony. Having,  at  this  time,  other  invitations  under 
consideration,  and  being  in  much  doubt  as  to  his  duty 
in  the  premises,  his  answer  was  delayed  for  several 
weeks. 

At  length  the  call  was  accepted,  and  he  commenced 
his  labors  in  this  Church  on  the  evening  of  the  first 
Sabbath  of  March,  1868.  His  introductory  sermon 
was  preached  from  1  Cor.  ii,  14,  "The  natural  man 
receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God ;"  associ- 
ated with  2  Thess.  iii.  1,  "Brethren,  pray  for  us,  that 
the  word  of  the  Lord  may  have  free  course  and  be  glo- 


21 

rifled."  He  was  installed  pastor  of  this  Church  on 
Thursday  evening,  April  16,  1868.  The  Rev.  F.  T. 
Brown,  D.  D.,  of  St.  Paul,  presided,  proposed  the  con- 
stitutional questions,  preached  the  sermon,  and  gave 
the  charge  to  the  pastor.  Rev.  Sheldon  Jackson  of 
Rochester,  Minn.,  who  afterwards  became  the  great 
Alaskan  Missionary,  gave  the  charge  to  the  people. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Ube  Cburcb  un^er  tbe  ipastovate  ot  H>i\ 
Sample. 

Few  pastors  have  made  upon  the  members  of  their 
congreg;ation  a  greater  and  more  enduring  impression, 
than  that  made  by  Robert  F.  Sample  upon  the  congre- 
gation of  this  Church.  The  circumstances,  under 
which  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  little 
church,  seemed  to  its  members  to  be  providential. 

Mr.  Sample  had  been  supplying  the  Andrew  Church 
of  St.  Anthony  for  several  years,  and  had  definitely  de- 
cided to  remove  to  some  other  field  of  labor.  Under 
these  circumstances,  the  way  seemed  clear  to  the 
officers  and  members  of  Westminster  Church  to  invite 
him  to  occupy  the  vacant  pulpit  of  this  Church.  The 
records  of  the  congregational  meetings  record  the  fact 
that,  to  the  members  of  the  Church  at  that  time,  the 
indications  of  Providence  seemed  plainly  to  point  to 
him  as  the  one,  whom  they  should  call. 

At  the  time  the  congregational  meeting  to  act  upon 
the  question  was  held,  there  w^as  a  much  disturbed  feel- 
ing in  the  congregation,  growing  out  of  the  unexpected 
resignation  and  removal  of  the  former  pastor,  Dr.  Con- 
dit.     So  keen  was  this  feeling,  that  grave  apprehen- 


23 

sions  were  felt  by  the  officers  of  the  Church,  lest  the 
hitherto  uninterrupted  harmony  in  the  Church  might 
be  seriously  disturbed. 

The  Church  records  contain  this  entry,  "God  was 
better  to  us  than  we  almost  dared  to  hope,  and,  to  our 
glad  surprise,  we  found  ourselves  united  in  making  this 
call.  Our  instinctive  feeling  was,  in  view  of  this  re- 
sult, surely  this  is  of  the  Lord." 

The  pastoral  relation  thus  auspiciously  begun,  and 
which  lasted  without  interruption  for  more  than  nine- 
teen years,  was  marked  during  its  entire  course,  by 
the  presence  and  blessing  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  During 
all  of  the  time,  the  Church  made  a  healthy  growth,  ful- 
ly commensurate  with  the  growth  and  development 
of  this  city  and  of  the  surrounding  country.  The  ac- 
cessions to  the  Church,  both  upon  confession  of  faith 
and  by  letter,  were  large  in  nearly  every  year,  as  com- 
pared with  the  size  of  the  Church  and  the  growth  of 
the  city. 

In  1869,  at  the  annual  congregational  meeting  held 
on  April  9th,  the  question  of  purchasing  a  parsonage 
began  to  be  agitated.  At  that  meeting  a  resolution 
was  adopted,  directing  the  trustees  to  purchase  for 
that  purpose  the  property  of  L.  D.  Parker,  adjoining 
the  Church,  for  the  sum  of  $4500.00,  one-third  of  which 
was  to  be  paid  at  the  time  of  purchase,  and  the  balance 
in  two  equal  annual  payments.  For  some  reason, 
which  the  records  of  the  Church  do  not  disclose,  this 


24 

resolution  of  the  congregation  was  not  carried  into  ef- 
fect; and  nothing  further,  looking  towards  the  purchase 
of  the  parsonage,  appears  to  have  been  done  until  the 
following  year. 

At  the  annual  congregational  meeting  in  April,  1870,. 
among  other  business  transacted,  a  resolution  ivas 
adopted  granting  to  the  pastor  a  six  months  leave  of 
absence,  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  him  to  take  a  trip 
in  foreign  lands. 

During  the  close  of  the  year  1870  and  the  beginning 
of  the  year  1871,  the  congregation  of  the  Church  was 
engaged  in  the  work  of  further  enlarging  the  building 
and  providing  cushions  for  the  pews.  At  the  congre- 
gational meeting  in  April,  1871,  a  report  was  presented, 
showing  that  the  ladies  of  the  Church  had  raised,  for 
the  purpose  of  supplying  cushions,  the  sum  of  $540.65, 
all  of  which  had  been  used  for  the  purpose  for  which  it 
had  been  raised;  and  that  there  had  been  raised  from 
the  members  of  the  congregation,  for  the  purpose  of  en- 
larging the  Church,  the  sum  of  $1940.13.  The  report 
further  stated  that  all  the  bills  for  such  enlargement 
had  been  paid,  and  that  there  was  a  balance  left  in  the 
Treasurer's  hands,  collected  for  that  purpose,  of  $3.50. 

At  this  meeting,  the  matter  of  securing  a  parsonage 
was  again  taken  up.  A  resolution  was  presented  by 
Mr.  W.  W.  McNair  and  unanimously  adopted,  which 
provided  that  a  committee  of  three  outside  of  the  trus- 
tees should  be  appointed,  who  should  collect  all  they 


4» 


Elder  Joseph  C.  Williams, 
Charter   Member   cf    Church 


25 

could  in  the  way  of  moneys,  etc.,  for  the  purpose  of 
building  a  parsonage,  the  erection  of  the  parsonage  to 
be  a  memorial  to  the  union  of  the  Old  School  and  New 
School  branches  of  the  Church,  which  had  been  con- 
summated the  previous  year. 

It  was  also  resolved,  upon  motion  of  Mr.  W.  W.  Mc- 
Nair,  that  the  congregation,  in  addition  to  the  salary  of 
$2000  already  pledged  to  Mr.  Sample,  should  furnish 
him  with  house  rent  at  a  cost  not  exceeding  $500.00  per 
annum,  to  commence  from  May  1,  1871  and  to  con- 
tinue until  the  congregation  should  provide  a  parson- 
age. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1871,  the  congregation  had 
introduced  for  the  first  time,  as  an  experiment,  the 
free  pew  system,  wuth  Aveekly  collections  for  the  pay- 
ment of  the  pastor's  salary  and  the  ordinary  contingent 
expenses  of  the  Church.  At  the  April  annual  meeting 
of  that  year,  the  Treasurer  reported  that,  during  the 
quarter  ending  April  1st,  1871,  the  system  had  worked 
satisfactorily  and  that  it  would  be  continued  for  the 
coming  year. 

In  July,  1871,  a  special  meeting  of  the  congregation 
was  held  for  the  purpose,  especially,  of  considering  the 
action  taken  by  the  Board  in  regard  to  procuring  a  par- 
sonage. The  trustees  reported  that  they  had  secured 
options  for  two  houses,  one  on  the  corner  of  Eighth 
Street  and  Minnetonka  Street,  now  First  Avenue 
South,  known  as  the  Cocke  house,  and  the  other,  the 


26 

residence  of  John  Horton,on  the  corner  of  Ninth  Street 
and  Nicollet  Avenue,  The  price  asked  for  the  former 
was  $8500.00  and  for  the  latter  $6700.00.  These  prices, 
in  the  light  of  the  prices  asked  for  the  same  property 
at  the  present  time,  illustrate  forcibly  the  remarkable 
increase  in  values  of  real  estate  in  the  central  portion 
of  Minneapolis.  The  land  upon  which  stood  the  Hor- 
ton  House,  upon  the  basis  of  its  present  valuation  per 
front  foot,  is  probably  worth  $100,000. 

The  report  of  the  trustees  excited  a  great  deal  of 
discussion  with  regard  to  the  size  of  the  lots,  the  desir- 
ability of  the  locaton,  etc.  The  pastor  urged  the  con- 
gregation to  take  some  action  in  relation  to  the  matter 
of  the  parsonage,  and  emphasized  the  importance  of  so 
doing,  both  for  the  comfort  of  the  pastor  and  the  effi- 
ciency of  his  work  and  for  the  credit  and  prosperity  of 
the  Church  and  congregation.  No  action  was  taken  at 
the  meeting,  other  than  to  adopt  a  resolution  referring 
the  whole  subject  to  the  trustees,  with  instructions  to 
duplicate  the  building  on  the  Cocke  property,  for 
enough  less  than  the  price  asked  for  the  said  property 
to  warrant  them  in  so  doing;  or,  if  it  could  not  be  du- 
plicated for  a  sum  considerably  less  than  the  price  ask- 
ed for  the  propert}'',  then  to  bu}'  a  suitable  house  for  a 
parsonage  at  as  Ioav  a  price  as  possible. 

The  plan  of  purchasing  a  parsonage  was  never  car- 
ried out.  While  the  failure  to  do  so  was  a  disappoint- 
ment to  Dr.  Sample  at  the  time,  3'et  it  proved,  in  the 


27 

future,  to  have  been  a  blessing  in  disguise.  In  1877, 
through  the  assistance  of  Elder  Vanderburgh,  he  was 
enabled  to  purchase  for  himself  a  home  on  Fourth 
Street,  directly  opposite  the  church.  The  Russell  Coffee 
House  now  occupies  the  site.  Though  he  narrowly  es- 
caped losing  everything  during  the  hard  times  in  Min- 
neapolis in  1893,  yet,  through  the  assistance  of  friends 
in  Westminster  Church,  a  plan  was  arranged  and  car- 
ried out  by  which  he  was  tided  over  his  financial  trou- 
bles and  he  was  enabled  to  retain  the  title  to  this  prop- 
erty until  a  few  years  since.  Then  it  was  sold  for  him 
at  a  price,  which  realized  nearly  $35,000  in  cash  above 
all  incumbrances,  thus  providing  for  his  comfortable 
support  during  his  declining  years. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  April,  1871,  Mr.  John  J. 
Ankeny  was  elected  Church  Treasurer,  an  office  which 
he  has  continued  to  occupy  from  that  date  down  to 
the  present  time. 

It  is  fitting  at  this  place  to  acknowledge  the  obliga- 
tion of  this  Church  and  congregation  to  Mr.  Ankeny. 
They  owe  to  him  a  debt  of  gratitude,  which  it  would  be 
hard  to  repay.  For  thirt5'-six  years  he  has  been  acting 
in  the  capacity  of  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
faithfully  discharging  every  detail  of  the  duties  en- 
trusted to  him.  Remarkably  accurate  in  every  item 
of  his  accounts;  zealous  for  the  honor  and  integrity  of 
Westminster  Church,  especially  in  relation  to  its 
finances;  alwa3^s  rejoicing  in  the  growth  and  prosper- 


28 

ity  of  the  Church  and  careful  to  see  that  none  of  its 
moneys  should  be  wasted,  John  J.  Ankeny  has  been 
a  tower  of  strength  to  the  congregation  and  to  the 
Board  of  Trustees. 

At  the  April  meeting  in  18T2,  the  pastor  presented  to 
the  congregation  a  plan  for  the  purchase  from  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Minneapolis,  of  a  lot,  on 
the  corner  of  Eighth  Street  and  First  Avenue  South, 
owned  by  that  church,  and  upon  which  Avas  situated 
the  building  in  which  it  Avas  then  worshipping.  He 
stated  that  it  was  the  intention  of  the  congregation  of 
the  First  Presb3^terian  Church  to  remove  to  some  lo- 
cation in  the  lower  part  of  the  city  and  that,  for  that 
reason,  they  desired  to  dispose  of  their  present  lot. 

No  action  was  taken  upon  this  suggestion,  other 
than  to  refer  the  whole  matter  to  the  Board  of  Trustees 
for  their  decision. 

At  the  April  meeting  in  1873,  the  fiscal  year  of  the 
Church  was  changed  so  as  to  begin  on  April  1st,  in 
each  year,  instead  of  on  January  1st,  as  had  theretofore 
been  the  custom.  At  this  meeting,  the  fact  was  also 
developed  that  there  was  a  considerable  indebtedness 
on  the  congregation  for  current  expenses,  including 
the  pastor's  salary,  which  had  been  accumulating  from 
year  to  year.  A  committee  was  appointed  by  the 
meeting,  consisting  of  W.  W.  McNair,  John  J.  Ankeny, 
Mrs.  Ramsey  and  Miss  Varney,  to  canvass  those  pres- 
ent at   the   meeting  to   ascertain   Avhat   the   prospects- 


29 

were  for  raising  the  money  to  pay  off  the  indebtedness 
at.  once.  The  result  of  the  canvass  showed  a  unani- 
mous opinion  in  favor  of  making  immediate  effort  to 
discharge  the  indebtedness,  and  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  canvass  the  congregation  to  secure  the  de- 
sired amount;  and  this  committee  was  instructed  that, 
out  of  the  money  raised  by  such  canvass,  the  amount 
due  the  pastor  for  back  salary  should  first  be  paid. 
Steps  were  taken,  also,  leading  towards  the  purchase 
of  an  organ  for  the  church.  A  resolution  was  also 
adopted,  which,  if  now  enforced,  would  afford  relief 
to  the  patient  and  much  tried  ushers  of  our  Church. 
After  appointing  a  committee  to  re-arrange  the  pews, 
so  as  to  afford  greater  seating  capacity,  the  ushers 
were,  by  a  unanimous  vote,  empowered  and  directed  to 
use  all  unoccupied  seats  for  the  seating  of  strangers, 
as  soon  as  the  hour  for  the  opening  of  the  service  was 
reached. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Sample, 
he  had  been  much  tried  by  hay  fever  and  asthma,  dis- 
eases to  which  he  was  always  greatly  subject.  They 
gradually  undermined  his  health  and  strength  to  such 
a  degree,  that  it  became  certain  in  the  spring  of  1873 
that  his  health  would  be  permanently  impaired,  unless 
he  could  obtain  immediate  relief.  To  consider  this 
matter,  a  special  meeting  of  the  congregation  was 
called  to  be  held  on  Tuesday,  May  20th.  At  the  meet- 
ing, a  report  from  the  chairman  of  the  committee  ap- 


30 

pointed  to  solicit  funds  to  pay  ofif  the  indebtedness  of 
the  Church  was  first  read.  The  report  was  full  and 
explicit,  covering,  generally,  the  whole  matter  of  the 
finances  of  the  congregation. 

The  matter  of  the  pastor's  health  and  methods  of 
giving  him  relief  were  then  considered.  It  was  resolv- 
ed to  tender  to  him  a  leave  of  absence  until  October 
1st,  with  a  continuance  of  his  salary.  The  meeting 
then  adjourned  until  the  25th  of  May,  for  the  purpose, 
if  possible,  of  completing  the  canvass  to  raise  the 
money  to  pay  the  indebtedness  of  the  Church. 

At  this  adjourned  meeting,  the  committee  appointed 
to  make  such  canvass  reported  that  the  entire  amount 
had  been  secured  and  the  entire  indebtedness  had  been 
paid. 

After  having  obtained  this  leave  of  absence.  Dr. 
Sample  went  to  Denver,  Col.,  where  he  was  engaged 
to  supply  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church  of  that 
city,  this  pulpit  in  the  meantime  being  supplied  by 
different  preachers,  as  they  could  be  secured  from  time 
to  time.  While  the  pastor's  health  was  greatly  im- 
proved by  the  change,  still,  by  the  time  his  leave  of 
absence  had  expired,  the  improvement  had  not  been 
so  pronounced,  as  to  make  it  seem  to  him  wise  to  then 
resume  his  work  in  connection  with  Westminster 
Church.  After  waiting  until  December,  without  any 
marked  improvement,  he  decided  that,  under  the  cir- 
cumstances, it  would  be  better,  both  for  himself  and 


31 

for  the  congregation  which  he  so  loved,  to  resign  his 
pastorate  over  this  Church. 

This  resignation  bears  date  December  9,  1873.  In 
it  the  pastor  states,  that,  in  presenting  it,  he  was  influ- 
enced solely  by  considerations  of  health,  which  seemed 
to  necessitate  a  sojourn,  at  least  for  the  winter,  in  a 
milder  climate.  The  resignation  was  not  only  offered 
in  writing,  but  was  also  presented  in  person  by  the 
pastor  at  a  congregational  meeting,  called  for  that 
purpose,  which  was  held  on  Thursday  evening,  De- 
cember 11th. 

The  pastor  urged  the  congregation  to  accept  his  res- 
ignation, for  the  reasons  given  by  him.  After  re- 
marks from  a  number  of  members  of  the  Church,  the 
resignation  was  with  great  reluctance  accepted,  and 
Messrs.  Isaac  McNair,  Prof.  O.  V.  Tousley,  C.  H.  Pet- 
tit  and  Dr.  Robert  S.  McMurdy  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  draw  up  resolutions  appropriate  to  the  sub- 
ject of  the  pastor's  resignation.  The  resolutions,  so 
presented  and  unanimously  adopted,  were  so  expres- 
sive of  the  feelings  of  the  congregation  towards  the 
pastor  at  that  time,  that  they  are  presented  in  full,  as 
follows : 

"Whereas,  the  Rev.  R.  F.  Sample,  our  pastor,  has  no- 
tified us  that,  on  account  of  increasing  ill  health,  he 
has  concluded  to  apply  to  the  Presbytery  for  a  disso- 
lution of  his  pastoral  relation  with  this  Church,  that 
he  may  seek  health  in  a  more  favorable  climate,  and 


32 

asks  us  to  unite  with  him  in  said  application,  and, 

Whereas,  we,  the  members  of  said  church  and  con- 
gregation, are  well  satisfied  of  the  necessity  for  such  a 
change;  now,  therefore,  being  assembled  in  congrega- 
tional meeting  pursuant  to  due  public  notice,  we  do 
resolve  as  follows : 

1.  That  we  will  concur  with  our  pastor  in  his  ap- 
plication to  the  Presbytery  for  the  dissolution  of  his 
pastoral  relation  with  this  Church. 

2.  That,  whilst  we  recognize  the  Providence  of  a 
wise  and  beneficent  God,  as  Father,  in  the  events  that 
makes  this  separation  necessary,  and  desire  to  submit 
without  a  murmur  to  his  will,  we  cannot  but  express 
our  heartfelt  sorrow  that  a  relationship  so  sacred,  so 
tender,  so  fraught  with  hope  and  promise,  should  so 
soon  be  terminated. 

3.  That  we  tender  to  our  Beloved  Pastor  and  to 
his  family  assurance  of  our  most  affectionate  regard 
and  sympathy,  in  this  time  of  sore  affliction  and  pain- 
ful separation. 

4.  That,  as  a  token  of  our  sympathy  and  affectionate 
regard,  we  hereby  engage  and  promise  to  pay  to  our 
pastor's  family  for  twenty-six  weeks  from  the  1st  day 
of  January,  1374,  to  the  1st  day  of  July,  1ST4,  the  sum 
of  $800.00  in  equal  weekly  payments,  i.  e.  $30.75  per 
week. 


U 

-J  ^ 

<    « 

x.s 

.-I 

^^ 

H    o 

U]  M-. 


33 

5.  That  Messrs.  W.  W.  McNair  and  A.  M.  Reid  be, 
and  hereby  are,  appointed  commissioners  to  represent 
the  congregation  before  the  Presbyter3^ 

6.  That  the  Session  be,  and  hereby  are,  requested  to 
make  such  provision  to  have  the  pulpit  supplied,  as 
they  may  judge  expedient  and  practicable,  until  a 
pastor  can  be  obtained." 

Immediately  after  this  congregational  meeting.  Dr. 
Sample  left  again  for  Denver  and  remained  there  un- 
til the  spring  of  1874.  During  a  large  part  of  this  time, 
the  pulpit  was  filled  by  Rev.  E.  D.  Neill.  About  this 
time,  the  trustees,  acting  mider  the  authority  given 
by  the  congregation  at  the  meeting  in  April,  1873,  pur- 
chased from  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  its  lot  at 
the  corner  of  Eighth  Street  and  First  Avenue  South. 
Upon  this  lot  stood  the  little  church  building,  which  had 
been  used  by  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  for  many 
years  as  a  house  of  worship.  Shortly  before  this  time, 
a  congregation  had  been  organized,  under  the  name  of 
the  Franklin  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church,  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  city  out  of  a  mission  school  es- 
tablished and  sustained  by  members  of  this  Church, 
and  a  lot  had  been  donated  to  it  by  a  Rev.  Mr.  Jackson. 
The  trustees  of  Westminster  Church  presented  to  this 
congregation  the  Church  building  on  the  lot,  purchas- 
ed from  the  First  Presbyterian  Church.  This  build- 
ing was  removed  to  the  new  location ;  and,  for  many 


34 

years,  it  was  used  and  occupied  by  the  Franklin  Ave- 
nue Presbyterian  Church,  which  has  since  become  the 
Vanderburgh  Memorial  Presbyterian  Church,  as  a 
house  of  worship. 

The  illness  and  absence  of  the  pastor  made  it  ex- 
ceedingly difficult  to  raise  the  money  for  the  current 
expenses  of  the  Church.  We  find,  therefore,  that,  at  a 
congregational  meeting  in  April,  1874,  the  Treasurer 
was  obliged  again  to  report  a  deficit,  amounting  to 
$2850.50,  $2000,  of  this  amount,  however,  being  the 
balance  due  for  the  purchase  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  lot.  The  reports  of  the  other  officers,  made  at 
this  meeting,  developed  the  fact,  which  was  felt  to  be 
very  encouraging,  that,  in  spite  of  all  the  discourage- 
ment under  which  the  congregation  had  been  laboring 
by  reason  of  decreased  revenue  for  current  expenses 
and  by  reason  of  the  illness  and  absence  of  the  pastor, 
nevertheless  there  had  been  an  encouraging  increase 
in  the  contributions  for  benevolent  purposes. 

In  view,  however,  of  the  indebtedness  of  the  Church 
and  the  difficulty  of  raising  the  amount  thereof,  a  mo- 
tion was  made  and  carried  authorizing  the  trustees,  if 
in  their  judgment  they  should  deem  it  advisable  so  to 
do,  to  sell  the  lot  recently  purchased  on  the  corner  of 
Eighth  Street  and  First  Avenue  South. 

The  most  important  items  of  business  transacted  at 
this  meeting  were  the  reception  of  the  report  of  the 
committee,  appointed  by  the  congregation  in  Decern- 


35 

ber,  1873,  to  represent  the  Church  at  the  meeting  of 
the  Presbytery  which  was  to  take  action  upon  the 
resignation  of  the  pastor,  and  the  action  taken  upon 
this  report.  The  committee  reported  that  the  Presby- 
tery, after  hearing  the  statement  of  the  commissioners 
representing  the  congregation  and  considering  a  com- 
munication from  the  pastor  relative  to  the  matter,  had 
declined  to  take  action  upon  the  resignation  and  had 
referred  the  matter  back  to  the  congregation  for  fur- 
ther consideration.  After  some  discussion  the  motion 
was  made  to  re-consider  the  resolution  of  the  congre- 
gation adopted  in  December,  1873,  accepting  the  pas- 
tor's resignation.  The  matter  having  been  thus  taken 
up  for  further  consideration,  the  motion  to  accept  the 
pastor's  resignation  was  lost,  and  a  motion  was  adopt- 
ed requesting  him  to  return  to  his  charge  at  as  early 
a  date  as  possible.  Shortly  after  this  meeting,  the  pas- 
tor returned  to  his  charge;  and  carried  on. his  work, 
from  that  time  on,  with  greater  efficiency  even  than 
before. 

Soon  after  the  return  of  Dr.  Sample,  the  congrega- 
tion began  to  consider  seriously  the  matter  of  erecting 
a  new  house  of  worship.  In  this  direction,  the  ladies 
of  the  Church  appear  to  have  been  more  active  at  first 
than  the  men,  for  we  find  from  the  reports  of  the  con- 
gregational meeting  held  on  April  5,- 1875,  that  the 
ladies  then  had  on  hand  the  sum  of  $2000,  which  had 
been  raised  by  them  to  provide  an  organ  for  the  new 


36 

church,  when  it  should  be  erected.  This  sum  had 
been  raised  by  the  good  ladies  from  various  sources, 
and  most  of  it  by  those  who  were  members  of  the 
Ladies'  Sewing  Society.  In  the  minutes  of  the  annual 
meeting  of  1875  appears  also  the  record  of  the  first  at- 
tempt made  by  the  Church,  in  the  direction  of  city 
evangelization,-  outside  of  the  immediate  work  of  the 
Church  itself. 

In  the  financial  report  of  the  Ladies'  Sewing  Society 
for  that  year  appears  an  item  of  fifty  dollars  ($50.00), 
donated,  out  of  the  funds  raised  by  them  during  the 
year,  to  Samuel  M.  Williams  for  work  in  connection 
with  the  Western  Avenue  Mission;  while  at  the  same 
meeting  Col.  L.  P.  Plummer  made  a  report  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  Western  Avenue  Mission.  Col.  Plum- 
mer's  report,  unfortunately,  was  not  incorporated  in 
the  minutes  of  the  meeting,  so  that  it  is  impossible, 
at  this  time,  to  determine  just  what  was  the  condition 
of  that  work  at  the  date  of  the  meeting. 

At  this  meeting,  the  congregation  again  exhibited  its 
liberality  and  its  affection  for  the  pastor,  by  voting  to 
increase  his  salary  from  $2500  to  $3000  per  year. 

On  the  13th  day  of  March,  1875,  a  special  meeting  of 
the  congregation  was  held,  in  order  to  consider  what 
steps  could  be  taken  towards  the  erection  of  a  new 
church.  The  meeting  appears  to  have  been  largely  at- 
tended and  very  enthusiastic  and  the  following  reso- 
lutions were  unanimously  adopted. 


37 

1st.  Resolved  that  it  is  expedient  and  advisable  to 
build  a  new  church  edifice  for  the  congregation;  to 
commence  the  same  by  June  1st  next,  and  endeavor  to 
complete  the  same  by  July  1st,  1877;  provided  three- 
fourths  of  the  cost  shall  first  be  subscribed. 

2nd.  Resolved  that  the  cost  of  such  church  shall  be 
not  less  than  $30,000  nor  more  than  45,000,  exclusive 
of  the  cost  of  the  lots  and  of  the  furniture. 

3rd.  Resolved  that  Col.  Plummer,  W.  W.  McNair, 
H.  G.  Sidle,  and  Prof.  O.  V.  Tousley,  shall  constitute 
and  be  a  committee  to  canvass,  and  make  return  of  the 
amount  of  subscriptions  for  this  object  to  this  congre- 
gation on  Monday  evening,  March  27,  1876. 

Pursuant  to  this  resolution,  an  adjourned  special 
meeting  of  the  congregation  was  held  on  March  27, 
1876,  to  hear  the  report  of  the  committee  appointed  on 
March  13th  of  the  previous  )'-ear  to  solicit  subscriptions 
for  the  new  church  edifice.  The  report  showed  that  sub- 
scriptions had  been  received  from  149  subscribers,  the 
amounts  ranging  from  $2000  down  to  $1.00,  and  that 
the  total  amount  subscribed  in  this  way  was  $24,515.30. 
In  addition  to  this,  the  Sabbath  School  had  agreed  to 
raise  the  sum  of  $430.30. 

As  the  amount  of  these  subscriptions  did  not  fully 
comply  with  the  resolution  of  March  13th,  the  meeting 
was  adjourned  for  one  week,  and  the  committee  was 


38 

requested  to  endeavor  to  secure,  prior  to  that  date,  sub- 
scriptions to  cover  the  deficiency.  The  adjourned 
meeting  was  held  on  April  3,  1S76,  at  which  there  oc- 
curred a  lengthy  discussion  of  the  whole  subject.  It 
appeared,  however,  that  the  committee  had  been  un- 
able to  do  anything  further  toward  securing  subscrip- 
tions since  the  27th  day  of  March.  An  animated  dis- 
cussion followed  this  report  of  the  committee,  in  which 
Prof.  O.  V.  Tousley  and  others  took  the  ground  that 
it  was  the  duty  of  the  trustees  to  start  work  at  once 
with  the  $25,000.00  already  secured,  instead  of  wait- 
ing until  $30,000.00  had  been  definitely  subscribed. 
This  suggestion  was  strongly  opposed;  and  many  ob- 
jected to  beginning  work,  until  the  entire  $30,000.00 
had  been  actually  subscribed.  No  action  was  taken  at 
this  meeting,  other  than  to  direct  the  committee  to 
continue  the  work  already  begun;  and,  when  the  sum 
required  had  all  been  subscribed,  to  report  the  same 
to  the  trustees,  who  should  then  call  a  meeting  of  the 
congregation  to  decide  upon  the  plans  and  specifica- 
tions for  the  church.  The  annual  meeting  of  the  con- 
gregation immediately  followed  the  special  adjourned 
meeting,  which  has  just  been  referred  to.  The  Treas- 
urer's report  called  particular  attention  to  the  fact  that 
the  trustees  had  not  been  able  to  carry  out  the  wishes 
of  the  congregation,  expressed  at  the  last  annual  meet- 
ing, increasing  the  pastor's  salary  from  $2500  to  $3000 
per  year ;  and  a  resolution  was  thereupon  passed,  urg- 


39 

ing  the   trustees   to  take  action  upon   the   matter  at 
once. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that,  at  this  meeting  as  well 
as  at  all  previous  meetings  of  the  congregation  during 
the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Sample,  it  was  recorded  not  only 
that  there  had  been  large  accessions  to  the  member- 
ship of  the  Church,  but  also  that  its  benevolences  had 
increased  largely  from  year  to  year.  This  was  all  the 
more  gratifying  because  of  the  fact,  that,  at  times, 
great  difficulty  had  been  experienced  in  raising  in  full 
the  necessary  funds  to  pay  the  current  expenses  of  the 
Church  itself. 

On  the  2nd  da}^  of  April,  1875,  the  members  of  the 
little  Church  were  greatly  saddened  by  the  death  of 
their  first  elder,  Andrew  W.  Oliver.  No  one,  except 
the  earlier  members  of  this  Church,  and  those  who 
have  gone  carefully  through  the  records  of  its  official 
boards,  can  begin  to  realize  how  great  a  debt  of  grati- 
tude we  owe  today  to  the  founders  of  this  Church — the 
Oliver  and  Williams  families.  They  built  upon  a  foun- 
dation of  faith  and  unwavering  fidelity  to  the  truth. 
Certainly  their  works  now  follow  them.  The  Olivers, 
Andrew  W.  and  Sarah  E.,  were  not  blessed  with  chil- 
dren ;  and  they  consecrated  all  of  their  substance  to  the 
Master.  Their  name  lives  in  Oliver  Presbyterian 
Church,  to  which  Sarah  E.  Oliver  gave,  during  her' 
lifetime,  nearlv  all  that  she  had. 


40 

On  May  18,  1876,  a  special  meeting  of  the  congrega- 
tion was  called  by  the  trustees^  to  hear  the  report  of 
the  committee  to  solicit  subscriptions.  The  meeting 
was  a  joyous  one,  for  the  committee  was  able  to  report 
that  they  had  received  subscriptons  for  the  new  church 
from  200  persons,  the  subscriptions  ranging  in  amounts 
from  ten  cents  to  $2000  and  aggregating  $28,145.60. 

The  ladies  of  the  Church,  who  had  raised  the  special 
organ  fund,  believing  it  to  be  for  the  best  interests  of 
the  Church  to  have  a  house  of  worship,  even  if  it 
should  not  at  first  have  an  organ,  reported  at  the  meet- 
ing that  they  had  voted  to  contribute  the  $2500.00,  rais- 
ed by  them  for  an  organ,  toward  the  erection  of  the 
church  building,  thereby  making  the  grand  total  of 
$30,645.60  in  subscriptions.  The  full  amount,  which 
the  congregation  had  insisted  should  be  subscribed  be- 
fore the  work  should  be  begun  upon  the  church,  hav- 
ing now  been  raised,  a  motion  was  made  and  unani- 
mously adopted,  that  the  committee  on  subscriptions 
be  discharged  and  that  a  committee  of  six  should  be 
selected  to  choose  a  site  for  the  new  church  building, 
said  committee  to  act  on  the  approval  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees. 

The  committee  so  selected,  consisted  of  H.  G.  Sidle, 
A.  Bradford,  J.  B.  Gilfillan,  S.  A.  Harris,  C.  E.  Vander- 
burgh and  R.  F.  Sample. 

A  building  committee  was  also  selected,  composed 
of  the  following  members  of  the  Church  and  congrega- 


Curtis  H.  Pettit  and  Deborah  M.  Pettit,  his  wife, 
From  a  Portrait  Taken  January  30th,   1858 


41 

tion,  viz.,  A.  M.  Reid,  W.  W.  McNair,  H.  G.  Sidle,  C. 
H.  Pettit,  W.  H.  Dunwoody,  L.  P.  Plummer  and  H.  H. 
Brackett. 

The  building  committee  found  it  difficult  to  obtain 
plans  for  a  suitable  building,  which  could  be  erected 
for  the  money  provided  for  by  the  resolution  of  the 
congregation ;  and,  on  the  31st  day  of  July,  1876,  a 
special  congregational  meeting  was  called  by  the 
Trustees,  at  which  the  chairman  of  the  building  com- 
mittee  made  a  detailed  statement  of  the  funds  avail- 
able for  the  erection  of  the  new  church,  showing  that 
there  was  a  deficienc}-  of  at  least  $20,000  in  the  amount 
subscribed,  if  the  congregation  desired  to  erect  such  a 
church  edifice  as  had  been  proposed.  Thereupon,  at 
the  suggestion  of  the  chairman,  a  resolution  was  adopt- 
ed, that  a  supplemental  subscription  of  not  less  than 
$25,000  be  raised  by  the  congregation  for  the  erection 
of  a  new  church,  before  further  steps  be  taken  by  the 
trustees  toward  building  the  same,  and  that  said  sub- 
scription, as  well  as  the  one  already  made  should  be 
payable  as  follows :  to-wit,  one-fourth  of  the  entire 
amount  subscribed  by  each  individual  shall  be  consid- 
ered due  and  payable  on  or  before  the  1st  day  of  Au- 
gust, 1876,  and  the  remaining  three-fourths  shall  be 
divided  into  ten  equal  installments,  payable  on  eacb 
of  the  following  dates,  October  and  December  IsfV 
1876,  February,  April,  June,  August,  October  and  De- 
cember 1st,  1877,  and  February  and  April  1st,  1878; 


42 

and  that,  as  soon  as  the  supplemental  subscription 
aforesaid  should  be  made,  the  trustees  of  this  Church 
were  authorized  and  instructed  to  proceed  with  the 
work  without  unnecessary  delay  and  to  place  such  por- 
tions of  the  same  under  contract,  as  they  might  deem 
advisable. 

Later  in  the  same  meeting,  after  some  discussion, 
the  amount  of  the  supplemental  subscription,  which 
must  be  secured  before  commencing  work,  was  reduc- 
ed from  $25,000  to  $15,000  and  the  resolution  was  then 
adopted,  as  amended. 

Prior  to  this  time,  it  had  been  definitely  decided 
that  the  best  site  available  for  the  location  of  the  new 
church  was  two  lots,  on  the  corner  of  Sixth  Street  and 
Hennepin  Avenue,  known  as  the  Walker  site,  and  the 
Trustees  were,  by  resolution,  instructed  to  consummate 
the  purchase  of  the  same  from  Mrs.  Walker,  provided 
they  could  agree  with  her  upon  the  terms  and  price. 
Nothing  further  of  an  official  nature  appears  to  have 
been  done  regarding  the  erection  of  the  church,  until 
the  annual  congregational  meeting  held  April  4,  1877 ; 
and  even  at  that  meeting  nothing  was  done,  except  to 
authorize  the  Trustees  to  sell  the  lot,  purchased  from 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  on  the  corner  of  Eighth 
Street  and  First  Avenue  South,  at  such  price  as  in  the 
judgment  of  the  Trustees  might  be  right,  in  order  that 
the  proceeds  might  be  used  to  pay  the  indebtedness  in- 


A3 

curred  in  its  purchase  and  the  balance  realized  from 
the  sale  used  for  the  new  church. 

At  this  annual  meeting  occurred  also  the  first  elec- 
tion of  Deacons  by  this  Church,  S.  A.  Harris  and 
Charles  E.  Moore  being  then  elected  and  afterwards 
ordained  and  installed. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that,  at  that  time,  the  ques- 
tion, how  to  provide  sittings  for  visitors  and  for  those 
of  the  congregation  who  were  unable  to  obtain  regular 
sittings  in  the  church,  was  again  troubling  the  Trus- 
tees. After  remarks,  from  a  number  of  persons,  bearing 
upon  this  matter,  the  following  resolution  was  offered 
by  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  was  unani- 
mously adopted. 

"Resolved  that  pews  be  declared  vacant  and  that  the 
ushers  put  strangers  into  any  pew  that  is  empty,  as 
they  come  in." 

During  this  year  the  church  was  again  called  upon 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  beloved  officer,  one  who  had 
been  a  charter  member  and  who  had  served  it  faith- 
fully and  efficiently  as  Elder  and  Trustee.  On  the  23d 
of  September  in  that  year  Elder  Joseph  C.  Williams 
entered  into  rest.  We  rejoice  that  his  honored  name 
still  remains  upon  our  rolls,  for  his  grandson  and  name 
sake  united  with  this  Church,  on  confession  of  faith, 
June  10th,  1906. 

During  this  year  there  occurred  also  a  matter,  in  con- 
nection with  tb.e  administration  of  the  affairs  of  the 


44 

Church,  which  produced  at  the  time  some  friction  and 
threatened  for  awhile  to  interrupt  the  harmony,  which 
had  characterized  the  Church  up  to  that  time.  At  a 
special  meeting  of  the  congregation,  called  to  be  held 
June  28,  1877,  and  held  upon  said  date,  for  the  election 
of  additional  elders  for  the  Church,  a  motion  was  made 
that  the  Church  adopt  for  the  first  time  the  rotary  sys- 
tem of  eldership,  instead  of  the  life  term  system,  which 
had  been  previously  in  force.  Following  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  resolution,  an  animated  debate  followed; 
and,  as  the  matter  could  not  then  be  decided,  the  meet- 
ing was  adjourned  until  the  13th  day  of  July  at  the 
same  place.  At  this  adjourned  meeting  it  was  unani- 
mously resolved  by  the  congregation,  that,  in  view  of 
the  wishes  and  convictions  of  the  existing  eldership, 
who  were,  as  a  body,  averse  to  the  election  of  ruling 
elders  for  a  limited  term,  the  whole  matter  should  be 
indefinitely  postponed,  both  as  respected  the  election 
of  additional  elders  and  also  as  respected  the  change  of 
system  proposed  at  the  former  meeting.  While  the 
matter  was  thus  temporarily  disposed  of,  it  continued 
to  agitate  the  thoughts  and  feelings  of  the  membership 
of  the  Church.  A  meeting  was  therefore  called  by  the 
eldership,  to  be  held  on  the  32nd  day  of  January,  1878, 
for  the  purpose  of  settling  the  question  ;  and  such  meet- 
ing was  held  on  that  date. 

Immediately  upon  the  organization  of  the  meeting,  a 
motion  was  made  that  three  additional  elders  be  elect- 


45 

ed.  This  motion  was  carried.  A  motion  was  then 
made  that  the  Church  adopt,  for  the  future,  the  rotary 
system  of  electing  elders  and  deacons.  This  resolu- 
tion was  also  adopted,  by  a  vote  of  sixty-six  in  the 
affirmative  to  thirty-three  in  the  negative.  The  elec- 
tion resulted  in  the  choice  of  Messrs.  Louis  H.  Wil- 
liams and  J.  A.  Baird,  to  serve  for  a  term  of  three  years 
and  Isaac  McNair  to  serve  for  the  term  of  two  years, 
they  three  having  been  elders,  in  office  prior  to  the 
date  of  the  meeting.  The  new  elders  elected  were 
Messrs.  E.  K.  Ware,  for  the  term  of  two  years,  and 
R.  S.  Lee  and  J.  H.  Monroe,  each  for  the  term  of 
one  year.  Mr.  Isaac  McNair  having  at  once  de- 
clined to  accept  his  elecion,  at  the  same  meeting  Mr. 
S.  M.  Williams  was  elected  in  his  place;  but  he  did 
not  accept  the  election.  Mr.  Louis  H.  Williams,  ow- 
ing to  his  conscientious  belief  that  the  rotary  system 
of  electing  elders  was  un-Presbyterian  and  unscrip- 
tural,  declined  to  serve  longer  as  an  acting  elder,  giving 
in  writing  a  full  and  clear  statement  of  his  views  on 
the  subject. 

It  was  a  source  of  sorrow  to  the  Church  that,  be- 
cause of  this  action  of  the  congregation,  Elder  Isaac 
McNair  felt  compelled  to  transfer  his  membership  to 
the  Andrew  Church,  and  Elder  C.  E.  Vanderburgh  to 
"the  First  Presbyterian  Church.  Elder  Louis  H.  Wil- 
liams, while  retaining  his  membership  in  Westminster 
Church,     worshipped     with     the     First     Presbyterian 


46 

Church,  when  physically  able  to  do  so,  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  The  members  of  this  Church,  while 
greatly  regretting  that  these  brethren  should  have  felt 
compelled  to  take  this  action,  yet  honored  and  respect- 
ed them  for  their  conscientious  devotion  to  what  they 
believed  to  be  the  right. 

Elder  Louis  H.  Williams  died  at  the  residence  of  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Frederick  Chalmers,  in  Minneapolis,  on 
September  18,  1889,  honored  and  beloved  by  all  wha 
knew  him. 

For  several  years,  the  Trustees  had  been  endeavor- 
ing faithfully  to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  the  congre- 
gation, as  expressed  in  their  action  providing  that  the 
current  expenses  of  the  Church  should  be  raised  by 
the  voluntary  subscription  system.  Every  year  had 
shown  a  deficit  in  the  running  expenses  of  the  Church, 
which  deficit  the  Trustees  had  been  compelled  either 
to  carry  over  to  the  next  year  or  to  raise  by  personal 
solicitation.  In  view  of  this  condition  of  affairs  they 
called  a  special  meeting  of  the  congregation,  to  be 
held  on  the  25th  day  of  January,  1878,  to  consider  the 
whole  subject  of  church  finances.  It  was  then  deter- 
mined, b}^  resolution  of  the  congregation,  to  which  no 
objection  is  reported  in  the  minutes,  to  adopt  again 
the  pew  rental  system  and  to  allot  the  sittings  in  the 
Church  upon  that  S3'^stem  by  receiving  bids  for  the 
choice  of  pews. 


47 

The  Trustees  were  also  empowered  to  fix  the  prices, 
for  which  pews  should  be  rented  from  year  to  year,  sa 
as  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  treasury  of  the  Church,, 
and  to  provide  in  this  way  for  the  raising  of  a  suffi- 
cient sum  to  meet  the  current  expenses  of  the  Church 
promptly.  From  that  day  to  the  present  time,  the  pew 
rental  system  has  been  in  force  in  this  congregation 
and  has  worked,  as  is  believed  by  the  officers,  to  the 
best  advantage  of  the  Church  and  the  congregation. 

The  matter  of  selecting  a  site  and  erecting  a  church 
remained  quiescent,  until  August,  1878.  A  special 
meeting  of  the  congregation  was  then  called,  to  be 
held  on  the  17th  day  of  that  month,  to  consider  the 
subject.  The  Trustees  then  reported  that  they  had 
received  a  plan  for  a  building,  which  was  suitable  for 
the  use  of  the  Church,  from  Messrs.  Randall  &  Miller, 
architects  of  Chicago,  the  cost  of  which,  complete, 
would  be  about  $40,000.  They  further  reported  that 
the  plans  were  drawn  with  reference  to  a  building, 
which  might  be  erected  on  the  lot  owned  by  the  Church 
at  the  corner  of  First  Avenue  South  and  Eighth  Street, 
but  that  the  Trustees  thought  it  best  to  sell  that  lot 
and  purchase  lots  at  the  corner  of  Nicollet  Avenue 
and  Seventh  Street,  which  would  add  about  $3000  to 
the  cost  of  the  ground. 

The  old  subscription  for  the  erection  of  the  Church 
appears  to  have  been  considered  null  and  void,  for  Mr. 
A.  M.  Reid,  one  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  stated  that 


48 

the  Trustees  had  made  some  efforts  towards  obtaining 
subscriptions  for  the  new  church  and  had  found  that 
the  people  were  all  anxious  for  a  new  building  and  ap- 
peared to  be  willing  to  contribute  for  the  same. 

Resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  to  the  effect 
that  work  upon  the  erection  of  the  church  building 
should  be  begun  at  once  and  that  the  site  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Seventh  Street  and  Nicollet  Avenue,  recom- 
mended by  the  Board  of  Trustees,  was  the  most  eligi- 
ble site  for  the  building. 

Mr.  E.  M.  Wilson  offered  the  following  resolution, 
which  was  unanimously  adopted. 

"Whereas,  our  present  church  edifice  on  Fourth 
Street  is  wholly  inadequate  for  the  proper  accommo- 
dation and  comfort  of  the  rapidly  increasing  congre- 
gation which  desires  to  worship  at  AVestminster  Pres- 
byterian Church,  therefore,  be  it  resolved  that  the 
Trustees  be  instructed  to  make  the  exchange  of  sites 
contemplated,  if  such  be  practicable,  and  to  commence 
the  erection  of  a  new  church  edifice  not  to  exceed  in 
cost  $40,000;  and  we  as  a  congregation,  pledge  our- 
selves collectively  and  as  individuals  to  support  them 
in  the  good  work,  both  with  our  means  and  personal 
efforts  to  the  extent  of  our  ability." 

Acting  under  the  authority  thus  given  them,  the 
Trustees  purchased  at  once,  lots  7,  8  and  9,  Block  223, 
Welles,  Sampson  and  Bell's  Addition  to  Minneapolis, 
on  the  corner  of  Seventh  Street  and  Nicollet  Avenue, 


-J  I, 

8i 


49 

where  Da3'ton's  Dry  Goods  Company  is  now  located. 
The  original  size  of  the  property,  contracted  for,  was 
165  feet  front  on  Nicollet  Avenue  by  132  feet  deep  on 
Seventh  Street.  The  price  to  be  paid  therefor  was  $13,- 
000.00.  No  one  then  dreamed  of  the  future  growth  of 
]Minneapolis,  and  some  even  raised  the  question  seri- 
ously, whether  it  would  be  possible  to  draw  a  large 
congregation  to  a  site  so  far  up  town. 

Mr.  H.  A^'.  AVagner,  desiring  both  to  relieve  the 
Church  of  a  part  of  the  expense  of  procuring  these 
lots  and  also  to  secure  for  himself  a  home  in  a  desir- 
able residence  locality,  offered  to  purchase  the  forty 
feet  front  of  the  lots  on  Seventh  Street,  in  the  rear  of 
the  proposed  location  of  the  Church,  at  a  valuation  of 
$3500.00.  This  offer  was  gladly  accepted,  and  the 
price  of  the  church  site  was  thus  reduced  to  $8500.00. 

Immediately  after  procuring  the  site,  the  Trustees 
commenced  the  work  of  construction.  After  careful 
consideration,  the  material  selected  for  the  superstruc- 
ture was  a  rich  dark  brown  sand  stone  from  a  new 
quarry,  just  opened  at  Fond  du  Lac,  a  suburb  of  Du- 
luth.  As  the  owners  of  the  quarry  were  very  anxious 
to  have  the  stone  used  in  this  building  as  an  adver- 
tisement of  its  merits,  they  offered  to  furnish  it  at  just 
the  cost  of  quarrying  it,  the  Trustees,  however,  to  as- 
sume the  cost  of  transporting  and  dressing  it.  The 
progress  of  the  work  of  construction  seemed  very  slow 
to  the  impatient  congregation,  and  it  was  a  joyous  oc- 


so 

casion  when  the  corner  stone  was  laid  with  appropriate 
religious  ceremonies.  This  occurred  on  the  13th  day 
of  July,  1880. 

The  pastor  presided  at  these  services  and  laid  the 
stone.  He  was  assisted  by  several  clergymen,  most 
of  them  pastors  of  sister  evangelical  churches  in  the 
same  part  of  the  city.  Among  those  who  thus  assist- 
ed were  the  following: 

Rev.  Daniel  Stewart,  D.  D.,  then  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  now  deceased.  Dr.  Stewart 
lived  to  take  part,  also,  in  the  services  attending  the 
laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  present  church  build- 
ing. 

Rev.  H.  C.  Woods,  then  the  pastor  of  the  First  Bap- 
tist Church  of  IMinneapolis. 

Rev.  H.  A.  Stimson,  then  the  pastor  of  the  Plymouth 
Congregational  Church  of  Minneapolis,  now  pastor  of 
Broadway  Tabernacle,  New  York  City. 

Rev.  W.  T.  Beatty,  D.  D.,  then  a  member  of  the 
Pittsburg  Presbytery.  Mr.  Beatty  afterwards  became 
the  regular  supply  for  Plymouth  Congregational 
Church  of  Minneapolis,  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  which 
he  afterwards  declined  because  of  his  poor  health.  He 
died  soon  afterwards  in  this  city. 

Rev.  Daniel  Rice,  D.  D.,  then  the  S3'^nod's  financial 
agent  for  iVlacalester  and  Albert  Lea  Colleges. 


51 

Rev.  C.  A.  Van  Anda,  D.  D.,  then  pastor  of  the  Cen- 
tenary M,  E.  Church  of  Minneapolis. 

Rev.  E.  D.  Neill,  D.  D.,  then  a  pastor  of  the  Re- 
formed Episcopal  Church. 

Rev.  J.  B.  Donaldson,  D.  D.,  a  son-in-law  of  Dr. 
Sample,  who  was  then  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Hastings,  Minn.,  and  is  now  pastor  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Davenport,  Iowa, 

The  congregation  felt  greatly  encouraged  by  the 
laying  of  the  corner  stone,  and  looked  forward  eagerly 
to  their  entrance  into  the  new  church  home.  Work  on 
the  building  proceeded  very  slowly,  partly  because  dif- 
ficulty was  experienced  in  opening  up  the  new  quarry 
and  obtaining  therefrom  with  promptness  the  neces- 
sary stone,  but  especially  because  of  lack  of  funds  and 
the  unwillingness  of  the  trustees  to  proceed  any  faster 
than  the  condition  of  the  treasury  would  warrant.  It 
was  discovered,  at  a  very  early  stage  of  the  work,  that 
the  cost  of  the  proposed  building  had  been  greatly  un- 
der-estimated. In  fact,  while  the  congregation  had 
voted  to  erect  a  building  at  a  cost  of  $45,000,  the  ac- 
tual cost  thereof,  when  completed,  was  nearly  $150,000. 
This  increased  cost  was  due  to  many  causes,  beyond 
the  control  of  the  Trustees. 

The  minutes  of  the  various  Church  meetings,  during 
the  years  1879,  1880  and  1881,  show  the  intense  in- 
terest displayed  by  the  members  of  the  congregation 
with  reference  to  the  new  building.     At  nearly  every 


52 

meeting  some  action  was  taken  urging  upon  the  Trus- 
tees the  utmost  expedition  in  completing  it,  because  of 
the  crowded  condition  of  the  old  building  and  the  con- 
sequent injury  to  the  religious  work  of  the  Church. 
They  show  also  the  activity  of  the  Trustees  and  oth- 
ers in  the  raising  of  funds  for  this  purpose.  The  La- 
dies Aid  Society,  which  had  undertaken  to  furnish  the 
new  building,  was  especially  active. 

A  history  of  Westminster  Church  would  be  very  in- 
complete  unless  it  should  contain  a  tribute  of  respect 
and  thanks  to  the  Trustees,  who  so  successfully  erected 
this  Church.  They  were,  at  times,  severely  criticized 
by  members  of  the  congregation,  who  felt  that  the 
work  of  erecting  the  church  vx^as  characterized  by  too 
great  delay  and  excessive  caution.  Looking  back  now 
upon  their  work,  it  is  apparent  that  such  criticism  was 
not  justified ;  and  that  those  busy,  self-denying  men 
were  deserving  only  of  praise  for  what  they  sacrificed 
and  accomplished. 

The  names  of  the  Trustees,  who  are  entitled  to  the 
credit  of  having  carried  this  work  to  a  successful  con- 
summation, are  C.  H.  Pettit,  H.  G.  Sidle,  W.  W.  Mc- 
Nair,  A.  M.  Reid,  Allen  Hill,  Wm.  H.  Dunwoody,  J.  B. 
Gilfillan  and  J-  K.  Sidle,  who  were  in  office  during  the 
entire  time  of  its  construction ;  and  O.  V.  Tousley, 
Frederick  W.  Brooks  and  H.  W.  Wagner,  who  were 
in  ofifice  during  a  part  of  the  time. 

They  were  all  men  of  large  business  interests,  which 


53 

demanded  their  most  careful  attention,  at  a  time  of  un- 
precedented business  activity  in  this  city.  They  had 
to  face  a  serious  problem,  in  trying  to  finance  the  work 
of  erecting  a  church  building  costing  far  more  than 
their  architect  had  led  them  to  expect ;  and  they  had  to 
do  this,  practically  upon  the  demand  of  an  impatient 
congregation  and  without  adequate  subscriptions  to 
meet  the  bills.  These  men  gave  generously  of  their 
time  and  money,  and  loaned  to  the  Church  their  in- 
dividual credit,  in  order  that  the  work  might  not  stop. 
As  the  result  of  their  business  management  and  self- 
sacrifice,  they  delivered  to  the  congregation,  in  due 
time,  a  building  beautiful  in  all  of  its  appointments, 
admirably  adapted  for  the  work  of  a  rapidly  growing 
Church  and  an  honor  and  credit  to  the  congregation,  to 
the  denomination  and  to  the  city,  in  which  it  was  lo- 
cated. 

The  lecture  room,  being  completed  and  ready  for  oc- 
cupancy, was  occupied  for  the  first  time  on  the  10th 
day  of  August,  1883;  and  the  old  building  on  Fourth 
Street  was  at  once  abandoned,  the  land  on  which  it 
was  situated  having  been  previously  sold.  It  was  a 
wonderful  illustration  of  the  rapid  increase  in  real  es- 
tate values  in  those  days,  that  the  Fourth  Street  prop- 
erty was  sold  by  the  Trustees  for  $12,000 ;  it  was  then 
leased  to  the  Trustees  for  the  use  of  the  congregation 
at  a  rental  of  $75.00  per  month,  until  the  new  building 
could  be  completed ;  and  before  the  congregation  had 


54 

vacated  the  property,  it  had  been  sold  again,  by  the 
purchaser  from  the  Church,  for  $36,000. 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  state,  that  this  old  wooden 
building  was  partially  destroyed  by  fire  a  few  months 
after  this  congregation  vacated.  The  ruin  was  pre- 
sented by  the  owner  to  Bethlehem  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  the  material  therefrom  was  used  in  the 
erection  of  a  church  home  for  the  congregation  of 
that  Church  on  the  corner  of  Twenty-sixth  Street, 
West,  and  Pleasant  Avenue.  The  building,  so  erected, 
was  used  and  occupied  by  the  Bethlehem  Church,  un- 
til within  a  comparatively  few  years. 

It  was  a  joyful  occasion  when  the  congregation  took 
possession  of  the  lecture  room  of  the  new  Church.  The 
attendance  at  both  Church  and  Sabbath  School  began 
at  once  to  greatly  increase,  and  a  new  spirit  and  en- 
thusiasm characterized  every  department  of  the 
Church  work. 

Owing  to  the  lack  of  funds  and  the  unwillingness 
of  the  Trustees  to  incur  great  indebtness,  the  work 
of  finishing  the  main  audience  room  progressed  slow- 
ly, and  was  not  completed  until  February,  1883.  The 
building  was  dedicated,  practically  free  from  debt, 
on  Sabbath,  the  11th  day  of  March,  1883,  Rev.  Herrick 
Johnson,  D.  D.,  of  Chicago,  then  Moderator  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  preaching  the  sermon.  His  text  was 
from  Ezekiel,  47th  Chapter,  first  five  verses.  The  ser- 
mon was  prophetic  of  the  ultimate  extension  of  Christ's 


55 

Kingdom  over  the  whole  earth  and  that  streams  of 
righteousness  would,  under  God's  blessing,  flow  forth 
from  the  building  then  consecrated  to  His  worship. 

Shortly  after  the  dedication  of  the  church,  the  beau- 
ty and  power  of  the  organ  were  displayed  in  an  organ 
concert,  given  by  Prof.  Bowman  of  St.  Louis. 

A  description  of  the  new  church  building,  a  picture 
of  which  appears  in  this  volume,  may  be  interesting  to 
those  who  have  not  seen  it. 

It  was  built  of  brown  stone,  and  with  its  great  pro- 
portions, deep  reveals,  and  massive  towers,  had  a 
substantial  appearance,  which  suggested  that  it  had 
been  built  for  all  time.  It  was  entered  through  three 
broad  portals,  and  from  the  large  halls  pleasant  stair- 
ways led  to  the  audience  room  and  galleries  above. 
The  lecture  room  was  on  the  first  floor,  and  around  it 
were  located  Sunday  School  and  Bible  Class  rooms 
and  parlors.  The  pastor's  study  occupied  the  second 
story  of  the  large  south  tower,  and  communicated  with 
the  pulpit.  The  main  audience  room  was  60x90  feet 
and  50  feet  in  height.  The  floor  sloped  on  three  sides 
from  the  outside  walls  to  the  center  of  the  fourth, 
where  the  pulpit  was  located,  the  radiating  point  for 
the  seven  aisles,  which  divided  the  circular  sweep  of 
p°ws  into  convenient  lengths.  The  gallery  was  re- 
markably graceful  in  its  outline,  and  the  large  organ, 
occupying  the  space  above  the  pulpit,  was  encased  in 
an  elaborate  frame  which  harmonized  with  the  rich 


56 

walnut  finish  of  the  church.  The  frescoing,  with  its 
delicate  shadings  and  chaste  designs,  was  considered  a 
marvel  of  beauty.  This  commodious  church,  with  a 
frontage  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  feet,  a  depth 
of  eighty-nine  feet,  the  main  spire  one  hundred  and 
ninety  feet  in  height,  one  of  the  best  appointed  and 
most  beautiful,  and  acousticall}^  the  most  perfect 
church  edifices  in  this  country,  was  erected  and  fur- 
nished at  a  cost  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  thous- 
and dollars. 

Although  the  capacity  of  the  new  church  was  large, 
it  was  taxed  to  the  utmost  from  the  first.  The  con- 
gregation, which  had  already  sent  out  two  colonies 
and  was  maintaining  three  missions,  inaugrated  a  new 
enterprise,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Presbyterian 
Alliance,  into  which  the  Business  Men's  Committ-ee, 
elsewhere  referred  to,  had  been  developed ;  this  mis- 
sion was  afterwards  organized  into  the  Bethlehem 
Presbyterian  Church.  The  Avomen's  societies  became 
especially  active  and  successful.  What  the  Church  has 
accomplished  in  the  Avork  of  city  evangelization,  and 
through  its  women's  missionar}^  societies,  is  set  forth 
in  detail  hereinafter.  The  attendance  at  the  mid-week 
services  largely  increased,  as  well  as  at  tlie  Sabbath 
services.  In  1884  the  Church  gave  a  leave  of  absence 
to  its  pastor,  who  went  as  a  delegate  to  the  meeting 
of  the  Presbyterian  Council  in  Belfast,  Ireland.  While 
there  he  was  entertained  at  the  home  of  an  Irish  gen- 


Rev.  Robert  Strong, 
Pastor   1862-1865 


57 

tleman,  who  had  been  converted  by  a  sermon  heard 
by  him  deHvered  by  Dr.  Sample  in  Westminster 
Church,  several  years  before,  as  he  was  passing,  as  a 
stranger,  through  the  cit5^ 

An  occurrence,  of  great  interest  to  the  Church  and 
communit)^,  was  the  meeting  in  Westminster  Church 
in  1886  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America.  The  Assem- 
bly had  never  before  met  so  far  west.  It  proved  to  be 
a  successful  experiment,  it  being  the  unanimous  testi- 
mony of  the  officers  and  commissioners,  that  never  be- 
fore had  it  been  so  well  entertained  or  with  so  great 
economy  to  the  Church  at  large.  The  work  of  prepar- 
ation for  and  the  entertainment  of  this  great  body  v/as 
planned,  and  largely  executed,  by  Elders  Wm.  M.  Ten- 
ney  and  Charles  T.  Thompson. 

Dr.  Sample  continued  to  be  pastor  of  the  Church 
until  December  23rd,  1886,  when,  because  of  ill  health, 
he  resigned  and  accepted  a  call  to  West  Twenty-third 
Street  Presb3'^terian  Church  of  New  York  City,  which, 
under  Dr.  Sample's  pastorate  was  united  with  the 
Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  of  New  York  City, 
the  United  Church  taking  the  name  "Westminster." 

Dr.  Sample  left  here  with  the  love  and  sympathy  of 
his  former  parishoners;  he  left  a  vacancy  which  it 
seemed  to  be  almost  impossible  to  fill.  During  his 
after  life  it  was  his  privilege  on  several  occasions,  to 
his  own  jo}^  and  that  of  this  people,  to  occupy  this 


58 

pulpit ;  and  it  was  his  joy  and  honor  to  be  elected  Mod- 
erator of  the  General  Assembly,  which  again  met  in 
this  city  in  Westminster  Church,  in  1899. 

An  attempt  has  been  made,  elsewhere,  in  this  vol- 
ume, to  pay  a  just  tribute  to  his  ability  and  to  his 
great  work  in  this  Church  and  vicinity. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Mistor^  of  tbe  Cbutcb  since  tbe  pastorate 
ot  H)r.  Satnple. 

The  ties  uniting  Dr.  Sample  to  this  congregation 
had  been  so  tender,  and  the  sorrow  of  the  people  over 
his  departure  was  so  great,  that  the  Session  of  the 
Church  did  not  think  it  would  be  wise  to  attempt  the 
choice  of  his  successor  at  once.  The  Session,  there- 
fore, supplied  the  pulpit  for  several  months,  and  did 
not  call  a  meeting  to  consider  the  choice  of  a  new 
pastor  until  March,  1887.  Then,  at  the  request  of  a 
large  number  of  the  members  of  the  Church,  a  congre- 
gational meeting  was  called  to  consider  the  question  of 
choosing  and  calling  a  pastor. 

At  this  meeting,  a  committee  of  nine,  three  from  the 
Session,  three  from  the  Trustees  and  three  from  the 
congregation  at  large,  was  chosen.  To  this  commit- 
tee was  delegated  the  selection  of  one,  to  be  recom- 
mended to  the  congregation  for  their  call  to  the  pas- 
torate of  Westminster  Church.  The  committee  so 
chosen  was  composed  of  J.  R.  Hall,  William  M.  Ten- 
ney  and  Charles  T.  Thompson,  Elders;  Allen  Hill,  G. 
H.  Miller  and  T.  B.  Janney,  Trustees ;  H.  G.  Sidle,  E.  F. 


60 

Pabody  and  S.  P.  Farrington,  from  the  congregation 
at  large.  This  committee,  after  careful  consideration 
and  investigation  and  after,  as  they  believed,  they  had 
been  providentially  led  so  to  do,  selected  Rev.  David 
James  Burrell,  D.  D.,  then  pastor  of  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Dubuque,  Iowa.  The  committee's 
report  was  presented  to  the  congregation,  at  a  meet- 
ing held  on  September  15,  1887,  and  it  was  adopted  by 
a  practically  unanimous  vote.  The  call  was  duly  and 
successfully  prosecuted,  and,  on  October  26,  1887,  Dr. 
Burrell  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Church. 

The  pastorate  of  Dr.  Burrell  was,  in  every  respect, 
highly  successful ;  the  membership  of  the  Church  and 
attendance  at  all  of  the  services  greatly  increased ;  and 
the  Church  increased  its  activity,  especially  in  the  line 
of  city  evangelization.  The  young  people  of  the  con- 
gregation were  especially  aroused  to  activity  in  re- 
ligious work.  Among  other  societies  for  the  young, 
a  large  and  active  society  of  Christian  Endeavor  was 
started.  The  pastorate  lasted,  however,  only  until 
August  3,  1891,  when  it  was  terminated  by  the  resigna- 
tion of  Dr.  Burrell  to  accept  a  call,  which  he  had  once 
previously  declined,  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Marble  Col- 
legiate Dutch  Reformed  Church  of  New  York  City,  of 
which  he  is  still  pastor  and  in  which  he  is  doing  a  great 
and  successful  work. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Burrell,  the  officers  of 
the  Church  created  the  office  of  lay  assistant,  in  order 


61 

that  the  pastor  might  be  relieved  of  some  of  the  rou- 
tine work  belonging  to  his  office.  Elder  Stephen  B. 
Williams  was  appointed  to  fill  the  office.  He  was  so 
efficient  in  discharging  the  duties,  that  he  was  con- 
tinued therein  until  his  death  in  October^  1894. 

At  the  congregational  meeting,  which  was  called  to 
take  action  upon  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Burrell,  the 
congregation  also  elected  a  pastoral  committee  to 
choose  a  new  pastor.  This  committee  was  composed 
of  two  elders,  two  deacons,  two  trustees,  and  three 
from  the  congregation  at  large.  The  Elders  elected 
were  John  S.  Crombie  and  Charles  T.  Thompson ;  the 
Trustees  were  Allen  Hill  and  T.  B.  Janney;  the  Dea- 
cons, George  H.  Miller  and  C.  S.  Cairns ;  and  from  the 
congregation  at  large  were  Ezra  Farnsworth,  Jr.,  E.  F. 
Pabody  and  A.  G.  Prentiss.  The  members  of  the  com- 
mittee gave  the  matter  entrusted  to  them  most  care- 
ful and  prayerful  attention.  The  task  was  a  hard  one 
— to  find  someone  to  successfully  follow  a  pastor  of 
the  unusual  brilliancy  and  power  of  Dr.  Burrell.  They 
were  clearly  guided  by  Providence  to  the  choice  of 
Rev.  Pleasant  Hunter,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Newark,  New  Jersey.  The 
committee  reported  to  the  congregation  at  a  meeting 
held  on  April  21,  1892,  recommending  that  a  call  be 
tendered  to  Dr.  Hunter;  and  the  report  was  unani- 
mously adopted. 

The  call,  was,   after  some   delays   and  discourage- 


62 

ments,  at  last  successfully  prosecuted,  and  Rev.  Pleas- 
ant Hunter  was  installed  as  our  pastor  on  November 
11,  1892 ;  the  sermon  being  preached  by  the  last  pastor, 
Dr.  Burrell. 

Under  the  new  pastorate,  the  Church  continued  to 
prosper  as  under  the  two  former  pastorates,  in  spite  of 
the  great  obstacles  and  discouragements  caused  by  the 
severe  financial  crisis  in  our  country,  beginning  in 
1893  and  continuing  for  several  years  thereafter,  and 
by  the  destruction  of  our  church  home  and  the  conse- 
quent inconvenience  in  carrying  on  all  departments  of 
the  church  work. 

The  congregation  continued  to  worship  in  their  sanc- 
tuary on  the  corner  of  Nicollet  Avenue  and  Seventh 
Street,  until  September  6,  1895,  when  the  beautiful  tem- 
ple, hallowed  by  so  many  associations  and  experiences 
of  God's  blessing,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  origin 
of  this  fire  was  never  definitely  ascertained,  but  it  was 
supposed  to  have  been  caused  by  electric  wires. 

Immediately,  while  the  ruins  were  still  smoking,  the 
officers  of  the  Church  took  steps  to  provide  a  place  in 
which  to  worship  temporarily.  The  Grand  Opera 
House,  which  then  fronted  on  Sixth  Street  South  be- 
tween Nicollet  and  First  Avenues,  in  the  rear  of  the 
Syndicate  Block,  was  engaged  for  the  Sabbath  ser- 
vices, including  the  Sabbath  School.  The  first  ser- 
vices, after  the  burning  of  the  Church,  were  held  on 
Sabbath,  September  6,  1895.     No  one,  who  was  pres- 


63 

ent  at  that  time,  will  ever  forget  the  tender  solemnity 
of  the  occasion.  The  people  were  deeply  sorrowful  for 
the  loss  of  their  beautiful  church  home,  but,  mingled 
with  the  sorrow,  there  was  a  feeling  of  God's  sustain- 
ing presence  and  comfort  and  a  determination  to  still 
carry  on  His  work  as  in  the  past. 

The  pastor  was  absent  on  his  vacation,  but  we  had 
his  greeting  and  words  of  encouragement  by  tele- 
graph. Such  words  were  also  received  in  the  same 
manner  from  Dr.  Sample.  Dr.  Burrell  was  traveling 
in  Europe  and  could  not  be  heard  from.  J.  B.  Donald- 
son, D.  D.,  and  other  clergymen  were  present  with 
words  of  cheer.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev. 
Thaddeus  T.  Creswell,  then  pastor  of  the  Shiloh  Pres- 
byterian Church;  now  pastor  of  a  growing  church  in 
Southern  California.  Elder  Charles  T.  Thompson, 
spoke  for  the  official  boards  of  the  Church,  and  out- 
lined briefly  the  plans,  which  had  been  formulated  to 
carry  on  the  work  of  the  Church. 

We  must  at  this  time  bear  testimony  to  the  words 
of  sympathy  and  oflFers  of  shelter,  received  from  the 
congregations  and  officers  of  other  churches  in  the 
city.  Those  from  the  following  churches,  viz.,  Ply- 
mouth Congregational,  Wesley  Methodist  Episcopal, 
First  Baptist,  First  Presbyterian  and  Church  of  the 
Redeemer,  Universalist,  were  especially  cordial  and 
worthy  of  remembrance.  The  proprietors  of  the 
Grand  Opera  House  tendered  their  building  free  of 


64 

charge  for  the  first  services.  Many  other  churches, 
not  above  mentioned,  expressed  their  sympathy.  Res- 
olutions of  thanks  for  these  expressions  of  sympathy 
were  adopted  by  the  congregation,  at  that  first  meeting 
in  the  Opera  House. 

The  committee  of  trustees  and  elders,  having  the 
matter  in  charge,  engaged  the  Opera  House  for  all 
Sabbath  services,  the  Unitarian  Church  for  the  mid- 
week prayer  meeting,  and  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  lecture 
room  for  the  meetings  of  the  women's  societies,  until 
we  could  get  a  new  church  home.  The  use  of  the  Y. 
M.  C.  A.  room  was  donated  free  of  charge.  Rooms 
for  the  offices  of  the  Church  were  kindly  furnished  by 
Mr.  George  D.  Dayton  in  his  building  (now  called 
Pillsbury  Building)  at  the  corner  of  Sixth  Street  and 
Nicollet  Avenue. 

The  congregation  continued  to  worship  in  the  Grand 
Opera  House,  until  it  was  sold  and  abandoned  as  an 
•opera  house  in  November,  1895.  The  Lyceum  Theater 
Building,  on  Hennepin  Avenue  between  Seventh  and 
Eighth  Streets,  was  then  engaged  and  occupied  for  the 
Sabbath  services.  On  the  last  Sabbath  in  June,  1896, 
by  invitation  of  the  ofiicers  of  the  First  Baptist  Church, 
the  congregations  of  the  two  churches  united  for  union 
services  in  the  First  Baptist  Church  building,  corner 
-of  Tenth  Street  and  Harmon  Place.  Under  this  ar- 
rangement, Westminster  Church  provided  and  paid  for 


65 

the  pulpit  supplies.  Among  these  were  two  former 
pastors,  Dr.  Burrell  and  Dr.  Sample. 

The  arrangement  continued  until  the  second  Sab- 
bath in  September,  1896,  when  Westminster  congrega- 
tion returned  to  the  Lyceum  building,  where  it  con- 
tinued to  hold  its  usual  Sabbath  services,  until  it  en- 
tered into  its  new  church  home.  With  an  exhibition 
of  Christian  courtesy  and  comity,  which  is  almost  un- 
paralleled, the  congregations  of  each  of  two  neighbor- 
ing churches,  Plymouth  and  First  Baptist,  on  several 
separate  occasions  gave  up  their  own  Sabbath  morning 
sen-ices,  in  order  that  we  might  have  the  use  of  their 
main  auditoriums  for  the  celebrations  of  the  Sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

The  mid-week  prayer  meeting  continued  to  be  held 
in  the  Unitarian  Church  building  until  the  week  of 
prayer,  when  union  services  were  held  with  Plymouth 
Church,  led  by  our  pastor.  These  union  services  were 
continued  for  two  weeks.  The  prayer  meetings  were 
then  resumed  in  the  Unitarian  Church  building  and 
continued  to  be  held  there,  except  for  a  time  when  we 
united  with  the  good  people  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church,  upon  their  invitation,  in  holding  union  meet- 
ings. These  continued  for  several  months,  with  entire 
harmony  and  Christian  fellowship.  The  Session,  how- 
ever, thought  it  best,  after  a  time,  to  have  our  people 
hold  their  own  meeting,  because  it  was  believed  that 
the  sense  of  responsibility,  thereby  created,  would  hold 
the  congregation  together  more  surely. 


66 

As  soon  as  the  officers  of  the  Church  had  arranged 
for  the  temporary  necessities  of  the  Church,  the  ques- 
tion what  to  do  for  a  permanent  church  home  was  at 
once  faced.  The  sentiment  of  officers  and  members  was 
largely  in  favor  of  removing  to  a  new  site,  which 
would  be  large  enough  to  have  both  main  audience 
room  and  lecture  room  on  the  ground  floor,  and  would 
avoid  the  necessity  of  having  a  basement  Sabbath 
School  room,  which  had  been  found  at  times  to  be 
gloomy  and  uncomfortable.  There  was  a  general 
feeling  that  a  new  site  should  be  chosen,  as  centrally 
located  and  as  far  down  town  as  possible. 

The  Trustees  had  adjusted  the  insurance  on  the 
burned  building  at  $29,500.00  and  on  the  organ  at 
$6,000.00,  making  a  total  of  $35,500.00.  This  was 
enough  to  have  restored  the  building,  as  it  was  before 
the  fire,  but  not  to  have  enlarged  it  or  improved  on 
the  old  plan. 

Attempts  were  made,  through  the  fall  of  1895,  to  find 
a  purchaser  for  the  property ;  but  these  failed,  largely 
because  of  the  financial  stringency.  One  offer  was  re- 
ceived from  Mr.  George  D.  Dayton,  of  Worthington, 
which  the  Trustees  did  not  deem  it  wise  to  accept.  In 
the  meantime,  there  were  negotiations  for  the  purchase 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church  property,  which,  however, 
came  to  naught.  Finally,  at  a  joint  meeting  of  the 
Elders  and  Trustees,  called  by  the  latter  and  held  in 
January,    1896,    a   joint   resolution   was   unanimously 


67 

adopted  that  the  Trustees  proceed  to  rebuild  the  old 
church  upon  the  old  site  and  plans,  unless  the  old 
site  could  be  satisfactorily  sold  prior  to  March  1st, 
1896. 

The  Trustees,  not  wishing  to  take  the  responsibility 
of  rebuilding  upon  the  old  site  without  consulting  the 
congregation,  referred  the  matter  to  the  congregation 
at  a  meeting  called  and  held  February  13,  1896.  At 
this  meeting  great  opposition  to  the  plan  of  rebuilding 
on  the  old  site  was  developed,  and  no  conclusion  could 
be  reached ;  the  meeting  was,  therefore,  adjourned  for 
one  week,  without  taking  any  action.  At  the  adjourned 
meeting,  which  was  held  February  20,  1896,  after  a 
long  discussion  the  Trustees  were,  by  a  vote  which 
was  almost  unanimous,  asked  to  sell  the  property  to 
George  D.  Dayton  for  $165,000,  of  which  consideration 
the  sum  of  $116,700  was  to  be  paid  in  cash  and  the 
balance  in  real  estate.  In  pursuance  to  this  authority, 
the  Trustees  made  such  a  contract  of  sale  with  Mr. 
Dayton,  subject  to  the  legal  ratification  thereof  by 
the  congregation.  This  ratification  was  given  by  reso- 
lution, adopted  at  a  meeting  held  May  5,  1896. 

Prior  to  the  May  meeting,  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Church  was  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  April. 

At  this  meeting  a  resolution  was  adopted,  that  a 
site  be  selected  and  a  house  of  worship  erected  there- 
on, as  near  the  site  of  the  old  church  as  was  practica- 
ble, and  that  the  choice  of  site  and  the  erection  of  the 


68 

church  be  delegated  to  a  committee  of  nine,  three 
to  be  chosen  from  the  Trustees,  three  by  the  Session, 
and  three  then  and  there  by  the  congregation.  The 
congregation  at  once  chose  as  members  of  the  com- 
mittee, J.  R.  Gordon,  W.  J.  Hahn  and  S.  T.  McKnight ; 
the  Session  chose  S.  A.  Harris,  William  M.  Tenney 
and  George  H.  Miller;  the  Trustees  chose  William 
Donaldson,  T.  B.  Janney  and  C.  H.  Pettit.  T.  B.  Jan- 
ney  afterwards  resigned  because  of  ill  health,  and  H. 
C.  Akeley  was  chosen  to  succeed  him. 

The  committee  organized  by  choosing  C.  H.  Pettit 
as  chairman  and  Allen  Hill  as  secretary. 

After  receiving  many  offers  of  sites  for  the  location 
of  the  church,  the  present  site,  on  the  corner  of  Nicol- 
let Avenue  and  Twelfth  Street,  was  chosen. 

Plans  and  suggestions  for  the  new  building  were  re- 
ceived from  several  architects.  The  plans  of  both  Mr. 
Charles  S.  Sedgwick  and  Mr,  W.  H.  Hayes  were  ap- 
proved, with  modifications.  With  the  consent  of  these 
gentlemen,  they  were  selected  jointly  as  the  architects 
of  the  new  building ;  and  the  plans  of  both  were  com- 
bined in  one,  containing  the  merits  of  the  two  plans. 

Bids  for  the  erection  of  the  building  were  received ; 
and  the  contract  let  to  the  H.  N.  Leighton  Company, 
it  being  the  lowest  bidder. 

The  contract  with  the  H.  N.  Leighton  Company 
was  signed  July  25th,  and  ground  was  broken  July 
27th. 


69 

The  work  progressed  rapidly  and  satisfactorily  up 
to  the  7th  day  of  October,  1896,  at  which  time  the  cor- 
ner stone  was  laid.  The  ceremonies  attending  the 
laying  of  the  stone  were  very  largely  attended  and 
were  of  great  interest.  The  pastor  presided  and  de- 
livered the  principal  address,  while  other  clergymen 
representing  nearly  every  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
city  took  some  part.  Among  these  was  the  venerable 
Daniel  Stewart,  D.  D.,  pastor  Emeritus  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  who  had  assisted  also  in  the 
laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  church  which  had 
been  burned ;  also  Rev.  John  C.  Faries,  and  the  Synodi- 
cal  Missionary,  Rev.  R.  N.  Adams,  D.  D. 

The  contents  of  the  box,  which  had  been  taken  from 
the  corner  stone  of  the  old  church,  were  placed  intact 
in  the  new  stone,  while  other  articles  and  a  brief  his- 
tory of  the  Church,  prepared  by  the  Clerk  of  Session, 
were  also  added. 

The  address  of  the  pastor,  so  beautiful  and  touching 
in  its  reference  to  the  past  history  of  the  Church  and  so 
inspiring  in  its  outlook  for  the  future,  should  be  pre- 
served for  this  people;  it  is  therefore  here  given  in 
full. 

"To  every  member  of  Westminster  Church,  this 
should  be  a  joyful  hour.  Twelve  months  ago,  like  a 
thief  in  the  night,  fire  came  and  robbed  us  of  our  beau- 
tiful home.  Not  until  we  saw  it  in  ruins,  did  some  of 
us  know  how  sacred  and  dear  that  home  was.     Be- 


70 

cause  of  'hard  times'  all  at  first  was  uncertainty.  Final- 
ly the  old  lot  was  sold  and  a  new  one  bought.  The  an- 
nouncement was  hailed  with  delight,  because  it  meant 
that  we  were  to  have  again  a  church  home — a  church 
home  more  commodious  and  convenient  than  before. 
The  service  of  this  hour  means,  that  we  have  made 
some  little  distance  on  the  way  toward  a  realization 
of  this  hope.  There  is  every  reason,  therefore,  why 
this  should  be  a  joyful  hour.  At  the  same  time  it  is 
an  hour  for  serious  responsibility.  Sixteen  years  ago, 
when  your  then  beloved  pastor  laid  the  corner  stone  of 
the  former  house,  he  pictured  in  language  most  elo- 
quent the  blessings  of  the  Church  to  the  world.  At 
the  same  time  he  expressed  the  hope  that  the  one,  then 
in  erection,  might  be  to  this  community,  what  so  many 
others  had  been  to  other  communities.  That  it  was, 
all  will  gladly  allow.  Not  with  worldly  pride,  but  for 
the  glory  of  Him  who  inspired  it,  may  we  refer  to  the 
work  of  Old  Westminster.  She  has  been  a  blessing  to 
individuals,  to  the  city,  to  the  world.  Within  her 
walls  many  have  found  the  pearl  of  great  price,  and 
have  come  to  know  the  joy  of  sins  forgiven.  Through 
her  ministry  many  have  been  built  up  in  holy  faith  and 
holy  living.  Into  her  courts  many  have  brought  their 
beloved  dead  and  from  her  desk  heard  the  consoling 
words:  'Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord.' 
'I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life.' 

"Through  her  consecrated  membership,  she  has  gone 


71 

into  different  parts  of  the  city — gathered  in  the  young 
and  sought  to  make  them  into  better  men,  better 
women  and  better  citizens.  Through  the  gifts  of  her 
substance,  and  in  some  instances  of  her  children,  she 
has  gone  to  those  that  live  in  darkness  and  the  shadow 
of  death  to  tell  of  Him,  who  is  the  way,  the  truth  and 
the  life.  For  the  opportunity,  willingness  and  ability 
to  make  such  a  record  we  are  devoutly  thankful  to 
God.  Today  we  lay  the  corner  stone  of  a  new  house. 
As  all  can  see,  it  is  to  be  larger  than  the  old.  Shall 
we  not  at  the  same  time  lay  in  our  hearts  the  corner 
stone  of  a  new  life;  a  life  of  consecration  and  willing- 
ness to  serve,  as  far  ahead  of  the  old  as  is  this  house 
to  be  ahead  of  the  one  that  was?  It  will  be  in  vain 
that  we  come  into  this  community  with  an  enlarged 
temple  of  stone,  if  the  spiritual  temple  be  not  also  en- 
larged. If,  as  a  Church,  we  would  take  a  stronger  hold 
of  the  people,  we  must  first  take  a  stronger  hold  of 
Christ.  The  Church,  be  it  remembered,  is  here  with  a 
mission  as  large  as  the  love  of  God  and  the  need  of  the 
world.  Its  motto,  therefore,  like  that  of  its  founder 
should  be :  *I  came  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was 
lost.' 

"It  should  be  a  great  rescue  mission.  It  should  be  a 
great  life  station.  It  should  be  a  place,  into  which 
men  may  come  and  feel  as  much  at  home  as  they  would 
in  the  very  presence  of  Christ.  To  become  such  it 
must  abound  in  the  spirit  of  brotherly  love.       The 


72 

Church,  of  all  organizations  that  exist,  should  have  in 
it  the  most  of  the  spirit  of  Christ ;  should  be  foremost 
in  putting  into  operation  the  principles  of  Christ; 
should  give  the  world  the  largest  exhibitions  of  Chris- 
tian brotherhood.  It  should  be  a  great  mutual  aid  so- 
ciety— a  body  of  men  and  women  interested  in  each 
other  and  working  for  each  other's  good.  The  love, 
that  centers  in  Christ,  should  have  something  of  the 
largeness  of  Christ's  spirit.  The  truest  friendships 
and  the  most  helpful  associations,  found  anywhere  up- 
on earth,  should  be  found  in  the  Christian  Church.  It 
should  show  the  influence  of  His  presence  in  every 
relation  of  life.  In  social  life,  it  should  show  the  great- 
est catholicity  of  spirit;  in  the  state  the  greatest 
patriotism  and  loyalty;  in  business  life  the  greatest 
uprightness  and  honor ;  in  private  life  the  greatest  free- 
dom from  the  taint  of  secret  sin;  and  in  the  home  the 
greatest  kindness  and  affection.  Its  motto  every- 
where should  be  'For  to  me  to  live  is  Christ.'  It  should 
champion  the  right,  whenever  it  needs  a  champion. 
It  should  do  the  right,  whenever  it  does  anything.  Its 
judgment  should  always  be  fair.  Its  criticisms  should 
always  be  just.  Its  demands  should  always  be  reason- 
able. Its  spirit  should  always  be  Christianlike.  May 
all  this  come  to  be  true  of  the  new  Westminster." 

Greetings  from  Dr.  Sample  and  Dr.  Burrell,  who  had 
served  as  pastors  in  old  \Vestminster,  were  read  by 
Elder  C.  T.  Thompson. 


Robert  A.  Condit,  D.D., 
Pastor  1866-1867 


The  letter  from  Rev.  Dr.  Sample  was  as  follows: 
To  Westminster  Church,   Greetings : — 

Dearly  Beloved:  Separated  from  you  by  many 
leagues,  and  occupied  with  pastoral  cares,  I  cannot  be 
with  you  on  this  auspicious  occasion. 

After  long  afflictions,  you  are  about  to  lay  the  cor- 
nerstone of  the  church  edifice  which  is  to  succeed  the 
house  destroyed  by  fire.  Those  of  you,  who  built  the 
former  house  and  dedicated  it  to  the  worship  of  God, 
have  especially  felt  its  loss;  you  have  looked  in  sad- 
ness at  its  ruins ;  only  its  beautiful  spire  pointing  heav- 
enward, and  one  of  its  towers — peculiarly  sacred  to 
me — standing  intact,  as  if  unwilling  to  sever  the  tie 
that  binds  them  to  the  returnless  past.  But  there  is 
much  for  which  to  praise  God  today.  First,  that  his 
kingdom  ruleth  over  all,  and  that  Providences,  which 
seem  most  adverse,  often  carry  his  richest  blessings 
with  them.  Then,  too,  it  will  be  comforting  to  know 
that  the  continuit)'  of  your  church  life  is  not  wholly 
broken.  Like  the  day,  which  disappears  behind  the 
lurid  flame  of  eventide,  then,  after  a  period  of  darkness, 
reappears  in  quiet  beauty  in  the  east,  so  the  house  you 
builded  for  God  is,  in  its  largest  significance,  continu- 
ous, soon  to  rise  on  another  site,  long  to  remain,  it 
may  be,  a  memorial  of  your  early  benevolence  and 
prayerful  toil.  But,  what  is  far  better,  it  will  be  God's 
house.     In  it  his  presence  will  be  revealed,  and  from 


74 

its  windows  you  shall  look  away  to  the  holy  temple,  in 
which  the  ransomed  of  the  Lord  shall  gather  at  Jesus' 
feet,  to  part  no  more. 

'May  the  glory  of  the  latter  house  be  greater  than 
that  of  the  former,  and  may  the  blessing  of  God  ever 
rest  upon  you  and  your  pastor,  dearly  beloved,  making 
you  glad  according  to  the  days  wherein  you  have  seen 
evil !' 

And  now  let  us  unite  in  saying: 

'Let  the  beauty  of  the  Lord,  our  God,  be  upon  us 
and  establish  thou  the  work  of  our  hands  upon  us,  yea, 
the  work  of  our  hands  establish  thou  it.     Amen.' 

In  tender  love  and  in  blessed  hope,  your  former 
pastor,  Robert  F.  Sample." 

Rev.  D.  J.  Burrell  wrote  to  the  members  of  his  for- 
mer congregation  in  the  same  way  that  he  would  have 
spoken  to  them,  had  he  been  present.     He  said: 

"Dear  Mr.  Thompson: — I  want  to  express  through 
you,  as  clerk  of  the  session,  my  deep  interest  in  the 
laying  of  the  corner  stone.  My  heart  will  be  with 
you  on  that  occasion,  and  my  prayers  will  mingle  with 
yours.  May  the  prophecy  of  Haggai  be  fulfilled; 
'The  glory  of  the  latter  house  shall  be  greater  than 
the  former;  and  in  this  place  will  I  give  peace,  saith 
the  Lord  of  Hosts.'  God  grant  that  all,  who  minister 
in  this  tabernacle,  may  set  forth  in  simplicity  and  with 
power  the  faith  once  delivered  to   the  saints.     God 


75 

grant  that  all,  who  hearken,  may  receive  with  glad- 
ness the  unsearchable  riches  of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 
In  due  time  may  the  Lord  fill  His  temple  with  His 
glory  and,  by  baptism  of  His  spirit,  make  it  worthy  to 
be  called  the  house  of  God. 

"You  want  a  word  from  me  to  place  in  the  corner 
stone  of  the  new  Church.  May  I  give  you  Matthew  16, 
16-18,  with  an  exposition:  'And  Simon  Peter  said, 
Thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God.  And 
Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  Blessed  are  thou, 
Simon  Barjona;  for  flesh  and  blood  hath  not  revealed 
it  unto  thee,  but  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  But 
I  say  also  unto  thee,  that  thou  art  Peter,  and  upon 
this  rock  I  will  build  my  Church ;  and  the  gates  of  hell 
shall  not  prevail  against  it.' 

"With  prayerful  greetings  to  all  the  dear  people  of 
Westminster  Churchy  I  am, 

Most  sincerely  yours, 

David  James  Burrell." 

The  work  upon  the  new  building  was  prosecuted 
with  vigor.  The  members  of  the  building  committee 
are  deserving  of  great  credit  for  the  fidelity  and  care, 
with  which  they  discharged  the  duties  laid  upon  them. 
They  had  been  instructed  to  erect,  and  completely  fur- 
nish, the  best  possible  building  that  could  be  secured 
with  the  proceeds  of  the  insurance  on  the  old  church 
and  the  moneys  realized  from  the  sale  of  the  old  lot. 


76 

They  were  so  successful  in  the  discharge  of  this  duty, 
that  they  were  able  to  turn  over  to  the  trustees,  at  the 
dedication  of  the  new  chur-ch,  a  building  beautiful  and 
commodious  in  every  respect,  admirably  adapted  for 
the  uses  of  an  active  modern  Church,  and  completely 
equipped  with  everything  necessary  for  successfully 
carrying  on  the  activities  of  the  congregation.  After 
so  doing  they  reported  a  balance  of  about  $1700.00  in 
the  treasury  to  the  credit  of  the  building  fund,  with  no 
outstanding  obligations.  While  every  member  of  the 
committee  performed  faithful  and  selfdenying  labor 
thereon,  yet  all  agree  that  especial  credit  is  due  to  El- 
der William  M.  Tenney.  He  visited  the  building  near- 
ly every  day  during  the  erection,  and  personally  in- 
spected nearly  all  of  the  material  and  labor  which  en- 
tered into  its  construction. 

It  is  greatly  to  the  credit  of  the  congregation  and  a 
tribute  to  the  ability  and  faithfulness  of  pastor  and  offi- 
cers to  be  able  to  record,  that,  in  spite  of  the  great  dis- 
advantages under  which  the  work  and  services  of  the 
Church  were  carried  on  during  the  erection  of  the  new 
building,  the  membership  continued  to  increase  though 
slowly;  all  the  missionary  and  benevolent  work  was 
maintained  with  vigor;  not  a  contributor  to  the  cur- 
rent expenses  of  the  church  was  lost ;  and  only  five  per- 
sons transferred  their  membership  to  other  churches, 
for  any  reasons  growing  out  of  the  destruction  of  the 
church. 


77 

The  work  upon  the  new  building  progressed  rapid- 
ly, so  that  the  chapel  could  be  occupied  by  the  4th  of 
March,  1897.  Upon  the  evening  of  that  day,  the  con- 
gregation met  for  the  first  time  in  the  new  chapel  for 
their  mid-week  prayer  meeting.  From  this  time  on 
all  of  the  services  of  the  Church  were  held  in  the  new 
building. 

On  November  7,  1897,  the  first  service  was  held  in 
the  main  auditorium;  and  on  February  4th,  1898,  the 
organ  was  completed  and  was  then  opened  by  Mr.  Al- 
exander Guilmant,  organist  of  la  Trinite  Cathedral, 
Paris. 

The  dedicatory  exercises  of  the  new  church,  were 
held  during  the  week  beginning  February  13,  1899. 
Two  former  pastors,  Dr.  Sample  and  Dr.  Burrell,  were 
present  and  took  part  in  the  services.  The  dedicatory 
sermon  was  preached  by  the  pastor.  Dr.  Hunter.  The 
pastors  of  neighboring  churches,  of  our  own  and  other 
denominations,  also  assisted  in  the  delightful  services, 
which  were  largely  attended,  not  only  by  our  own 
people  but  also  by  the  members  of  other  churches. 

The  religious  and  benevolent  work  of  the  Church 
was  now  resumed  with  new  zeal  and  great  success. 
God  signally  blessed  the  services,  both  in  the  home 
Church  and  in  her  chapels. 

In  May,  1899,  Westminster  Church  had  the  honor 
of  entertaining,  for  the  second  time,  the  General  As- 
sembly.    The  Assembly  of  1886,  which  had  met  in  the 


78 

old  church  on  Seventh  Street,  was,  in  a  sense,  the  guest 
of  the  whole  Presbyter}^  of  St.  Paul ;  while  the  Assem- 
bly of  1899  met,  owing  to  a  peculiar  combination  of  cir- 
cumstances, upon  the  invitation  and  as  the  guest  of 
Westminster  Church  alone.  The  work  of  arranging 
and  entertaining  this  great  body  was  planned  and  car- 
ried out  by  the  Clerk  of  the  Session,  ably  assisted  by 
other  officers  of  the  Church  and  especially  by  Elder  J. 
R.  Gordon  and  by  Elder  J.  C.  Hall  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church.  It  was  practically  the  unanimous 
judgment  of  the  officers  of  and  commissioners  to  the 
Assembly,  that  the  body  had  never  met  in  a  building 
more  beautiful  or  better  adapted  for  such  a  purpose; 
and  that  the  arrangements  had  never  been  more  per- 
fect or  the  entertainment  more  delightful.  It  was  a 
great  joy  to  Dr.  Sample  and  to  his  former  parishioners, 
to  have  him  elected  Moderator  of  this  Assembly. 

The  pastoral  relation  of  Rev.  Pleasant  Hunter,  D.  D., 
to  this  Church  was  terminated,  of  his  own  volition,  in 
1900.  On  January  15th,  he  read  to  the  congregation 
his  letter  of  resignation,  which  was  presented  to  the 
Session  at  their  meeting  on  the  following  evening. 

The  letter  was  so  tender  and  beautiful,  and  tells  so 
clearly  the  reasons,  which  actuated  him  to  take  the 
step,  that  it  is  here  given  in  full. 


79 

"Minneapolis,  Minn.,  Jan.  14,  1900. 
Westminster  Presbyterian  Church, 
Beloved  Brethren: 
When  ordained  to  the  ministry  in  1883,  I  resolved 
upon  a  rest  of  at  least  a  twelve  month  after  fifteen 
years'  service.  Had  not  our  church  on  Seventh  Street 
burned,  I  should  have  carried  out  this  plan  in  the  fall 
of  '98.  But,  having  come  so  recently  into  our  new 
home,  it  seemed  a  duty  to  wait  another  year.  When 
planning  for  vacation  last  summer,  I  intended  leaving 
in  November  or  December;  hence,  as  you  remember, 
was  absent  from  my  pulpit  but  one  month.  Ere  the 
season  passed,  however,  I  made  another  slight  change 
because  feeling  that  it  would  not  be  right  to  go  at  the 
beginning  of  the  year's  work.  My  present  plan  is  to 
make  a  European  trip  just  as  soon  as  a  successor  can 
be  found,  provided  it  be  not  later  than  Sept.  1.  At  an 
early  meeting  of  Presbytery,  I  shall  resign  the  pastor- 
ate of  this  church,  and  ask  you  to  unite  with  me  in  the 
request  that  such  resignation  be  accepted.  No  one 
here  knows  what  it  costs  to  take  this  step.  I  love  this 
Church  so  intensely,  that  to  withdraw  from  it  seems 
like  giving  up  a  part  of  my  life.  Were  it  not  for  the 
conviction  that  rest,  such  as  I  contemplate,  will  put 
me  in  a  better  condition  for  the  work  of  the  years  re- 
maining, I  would  not  think  of  leaving  you.  No  pastor 
ever  received  support  more  loyal  or  friendship  more 
devoted  than  you  have  given   me.     For  nearly  two 


80 

years  we  were  without  a  home,  compelled  to  worship 
under  very  unfavorable  conditions.  The  way  this 
Church  held  together  during  that  time,  I  shall  never 
cease  to  think  of  with  admiration.  It  is  only  the  few 
who  have  such  pleasant  memories  as  are  mine.  Seven 
years  and  three  months  of  a  harmonious  relation  I  have 
never  seen  excelled,  is  a  record  quite  as  honoring  to 
you  as  gratifying  to  me.  The  noble  men  of  the  Ses- 
sion have  not  only  seconded  heartily  every  proposi- 
tion made,  but  have  shown  such  a  thoughtful  and  fra- 
ternal spirit  that  I  cannot  but  bear  witness  to  it  in  this 
public  manner.  The  Trustees  and  Deacons  have  been 
equally  ready  to  do  all  they  could,  to  make  pleasant  my 
stay  and  successful  my  work.  I  thank  you  for  all  the 
confidence,  kindness  and  love  received.  The  years 
spent  in  Westminster  Church  have  been  among  the 
happiest  of  my  life,  and  time  has  nothing  to  offer 
which  I  shall  so  much  appreciate  as  the  warm  Chris- 
tian friendships  here  formed.  I  sincerely  hope  that 
you  will  begin  at  once  the  work  of  procuring  a  suc- 
cessor. Nothing  would  be  more  pleasing  than  to  give 
such  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  before  I  go.  Again 
thanking  you,  and  with  the  earnest  prayer  that  all 
spiritual  good  ma}^  be  yours  in  largest  measure,  I  am, 
Affectionately  your  pastor, 

Pleasant  Hunter." 


81 

The  remarks  made  by  the  pastor,  after  reading  this 
letter,  and  his  statements  to  members  of  the  Session, 
who  called  upon  him  regarding  the  matter,  showed 
that  the  step  had  not  been  taken  without  the  most 
careful  and  prayerful  deliberation;  and  that  nothing 
could  be  done  to  change  his  decision,  and  that  the  only 
thing  proper  to  be  done  in  the  matter  was  to  join  in 
the  petition  to  Presbytery  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  re- 
lation, thus  making  the  parting  as  painless  as  possible. 
Session  therefore  called  a  congregational  meeting  to  be 
held  on  January  25th,  to  consider  the  resignation  and 
to  take  action  thereon. 

At  the  meeting  so  held  the  following  resolution  was 
adopted,  after  remarks  from  a  number  of  speakers,  ex- 
pressive of  esteem  for  the  pastor  and  sorrow  at  losing 
him. 

"Whereas,  Rev.  Pleasant  Hunter,  D.  D.,  has  formal- 
ly presented  his  resignation  as  pastor  of  this  Church, 
and  has  asked  the  congregation  to  accept  the  same, 
and  to  join  with  him  in  a  request  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Minneapolis  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation  existing 
between  him  and  the  Church; 

"And  whereas,  he  has,  in  his  public  resignation  and 
private  conversation,  assured  the  congregation  and 
members  thereof  that  his  resignation  was  presented 
solely  because  he  needed  a  year  or  longer  of  complete 
rest,  which  he  could  not  obtain  without  being  entirely 
relieved  of  both  pastoral  duties  and  pastoral  responsi- 
bilities ; 


82 

"And  whereas,  though  we  regret  deeply  the  neces- 
sity for  the  dissolution  of  this  relationship,  which  has 
been,  under  the  Divine  blessing,  full  of  pleasure  and 
spiritual  profit  to  this  people  and  of  great  blessing  not 
only  to  this  Church  but  also  the  community  in  which 
we  live,  we  ^T^et  believe  it  our  duty,  under  the  circum- 
stances, to  grant  his  request ; 

"Be  it  resolved  that  this  congregation,  with  great 
reluctance,  accepts  the  resignation  of  our  Pastor,  Rev, 
Pleasant  Hunter,  said  resignation  to  take  effect  as  of 
September  first,  1900 ;  and  that  we  join  with  him  in  a 
request  to  the  Presbytery  of  Minneapolis  to  dissolve 
the  pastoral  relation  existing  between  us." 

Presbytery,  after  considering  the  matter,  at  its  April 
meeting  voted  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation;  and 
the  pulpit  was  declared  vacant  on  the  first  Sabbath  of 
July  following. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  congregation,  at  which  Dr. 
Hunter's  resignation  was  accepted,  a  committee  was 
chosen  to  select  his  successor. 

The  committee  was  composed  of  Elders  S.  A.  Harris, 
J.  R.  Gordon,  and  C.  T.  Thompson,  elected  by  the  Ses- 
sion; Trustees  E.  L.  Carpenter,  J.  S.  Porteous  and  H. 
C.  Akeley,  elected  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  F.  B. 
Daniels,  James  Paige  and  L.  K.  Thompson,  elected  by 
the  congregation.  This  committee  organized  by  the 
election  of  Elder  C.  T.  Thompson  as  Chairman.  It 
proceeded  diligently  to  search  for  some  one,  who  could 


83 

worthily  succeed  Dr.  Hunter  and  who  was  available 
for  the  position.  The  members  of  the  committee  de- 
voted a  great  deal  of  time  and  attention  to  the  matter, 
but  without  success,  as  no  one  could  be  found,  upon 
whom  the  committee  could  unanimously  agree.  On 
the  12th  day  of  November,  1900,  the  committee  re- 
ported, through  the  Chairman,  to  the  Session  of  the 
Church,  that  it  could  not  agree,  and  that  it  would  be 
better  to  secure  for  the  pulpit  a  stated  supply  for  three 
months  or  more.  Acting  upon  this  suggestion.  Rev. 
John  E.  Bushnell,  D.  D.,  who  had  recently  resigned 
the  pastorate  of  Phillips  Memorial  Presbyterian 
Church  of  New  York  City,  was  invited  to  fill  the  pul- 
pit of  the  church  for  three  months. 

The  invitation  was  accepted,  but  not  until  the  Ses- 
sion and  Dr.  Bushnell  had  entered  into  a  definite  mu- 
tual understanding,  that  he  was  not  coming  as  a  can- 
didate for  the  pastorate  and  that  he  was  not  consid- 
ered by  the  pastoral  committee  in  that  light.  The 
sequel  to  this  understanding  illustrates  the  truth  of 
the  proverb,  "Man  proposes,  but  God  disposes." 

Dr.  Bushnell  stood  in  the  pulpit  of  this  church  for 
the  first  time  in  December,  1900.  He  was  a  stranger 
to  us;  he  had  not  yet  a  personal  friend  and  hardly 
even  an  acquaintance  in  the  congregation.  The  first 
words  of  greeting  uttered  by  him  won  for  him  many 
friends,  andj  before  he  had  been  with  us  for  three 
weeks,  there  was  an  almost  universal  demand  from  the 
congregation  that  he  be  chosen  our  pastor. 


84 

While  the  members  of  the  pastoral  committee  also 
shared  in  the  admiration  for  him  and  for  his  preach- 
ing, it  was  yet  thought  to  be  wiser  to  defer  action  for 
a  time.  After  three  weeks  more  the  Session,  at  the 
request  of  the  pastoral  committee,  called  a  meeting  of 
the  congregation  to  hear  the  committee's  report.  The 
meeting  was  held  on  January  21st,  1901,  and  the  re- 
port, recommending  that  a  call  to  the  pastorate  be 
given  to  John  E.  Bushnell,  D.  D.,  was  unanimously 
adopted. 

The  circumstances  attending  the  call  of  Dr.  Bush- 
nell were  so  unique  and  so  evidently  providential,  that 
the  Session  ordered  their  Clerk  to  prepare  a  historical 
memorandum  thereof  to  incorporate  in  the  Session's 
minutes.  The  memorandum,  so  prepared  and  adopted 
is  as  follows: 

On  January  21st,  1901,  while  the  meeting  of  the  con- 
gregation of  Westminster  Church  was  being  held  in 
the  lecture  room  to  consider  the  report  of  the  pastoral 
committee,  the  Presbytery  of  Minneapolis  was  holding 
an  adjourned  meeting  in  an  adjoining  room  in  West- 
minster Church.  The  Moderator  of  the  Presbytery 
was  Elder  Charles  T.  Thompson,  who  was  also  Chair- 
man of  the  Pastoral  Committee.  One  of  the  first 
items  transacted  at  this  adjourned  meeting  was  the 
reception  of  Rev.  John  E.  Bushnell  as  a  member  of 
Presbytery,  upon  a  certificate  of  dismission  from  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York. 


85 

After  the  congregation  had  imanimoiisly  voted  to  ac- 
cept the  Committee's  report,  and  extend  the  call  to 
Dr.  Bushnell,  the  formal  call,  which  had  been  already- 
drawn  Tip,  was  attested  by  the  Moderator  and  signed 
by  the  Committee  appointed  to  prosecute  the  call. 

The  committee  went  with  it  before  Presbyter\% 
which  was  still  in  session.  Dr.  Bushnell,  who  was  at 
the  Hotel  Berkley  where  he  was  boarding,  was  sum- 
moned to  the  Presbytery  by  messenger.  Upon  his  ar- 
rival the  Committee  from  the  congregation  placed  the 
call  in  the  hands  of  Presbyter}\  After  being  read,  it 
was  found  to  be  in  order  and  was  placed  by  the  Mod- 
erator of  the  Presbytery  in  the  hands  of  Dr.  Bushnell, 
who  at  once  signified  his  acceptance  thereof.  The 
Presbytery  then  appointed  its  Moderator,  Charles  T. 
Thompson  and  the  pastor-elect  the  committee  of  ar- 
rangements for  the  installation,  with  authority  to  as- 
sign the  parts,  fix  the  date  and  report  at  a  future  meet- 
ing of  Presbytery. 

In  the  meantime  the  congregation  was  still  waiting 
in  the  lecture  room,  whither  the  pastor-elect  with  the 
members  of  the  committee  proceeded.  As  they  en- 
tered the  room,  the  congregation  rose  and  sang  the 
doxology,  "Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow." 

The  service  was  closed  by  Dr.  Bushnell  with  a  few 
earnest,  loving  and  very  appropriate  remarks  and  with 
the  benediction. 

The  Committee  of  arrangements  for  the  installation 


86 

assigned  to  Rev.  Henry  E.  Bushnell  of  LaGrange, 
111.,  the  brother  of  the  pastor-elect,  the  sermon,  and 
fixed  February  6th  as  the  date  for  the  installation.  A 
meeting  of  Presbytery  was  duly  called  for  that  date. 

Unfortunately  the  installation  could  not  be  carried 
out  at  the  date  so  fixed,  for  the  pastor-elect  was,  on 
February  4th,  called  to  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  by  the 
sudden  and  fatal  illness  of  his  father.  He  left  on  Mon- 
day, February  4th,  arriving  at  Saybrook  on  Wednes- 
day the  6th,  too  late  to  see  his  father  alive,  as  he  had 
entered  into  rest  on  the  day  previous  to  his  son's  ar- 
rival. 

In  the  meantime,  the  called  meeting  of  Presbytery 
was  held  at  the  time  and  place  appointed  and  adopted 
the  report  of  the  Committee  of  arrangements.  The 
members  of  the  Presbytery,  who  had  been  assigned 
parts,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  install  the  pas- 
tor. Dr.  Bushnell,  with  his  family,  arrived  in  Minne- 
apolis on  March  1st,  1901.  On  March  6th,  John  E. 
Bushnell,  D.  D.,  was  duly  installed  as  Pastor  of  West- 
minster Presbyterian  Church  of  Minneapolis. 

The  pastoral  relation  thus  created,  has  continued 
until  now  and  has  been  full  of  happiness  and  blessing 
to  both  pastor  and  people.  Under  it,  the  Church  has 
continued  to  grow  in  membership  and  in  influence; 
and  it  has  carried  on  its  religious  and  benevolent  work 
with  efficiency  and  vigor.  The  love  and  devotion  of 
the  congregation  for  their  pastor  has  constantly  in- 


87 

creased  and  he  has  won  for  himself  the  respect  and 
love  of  multitudes  outside  of  his  own  congregation. 

Several  notable  events  in  the  life  of  the  Church  have 
occurred  during  the  last  five  years.  One  of  those  was 
the  action  taken  by  Mr.  Allen  Hill,  at  the  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  congregation  held  in  April,  1901.  After 
having  served  most  efficiently  as  a  trustee,  and  as  the 
Secretary  of  that  Board,  for  twenty-seven  years,  he  de- 
clined the  re-election,  which  was  tendered  him  at  said 
meeting.  This  was  done  solely  for  the  reason  that 
Mr.  Hill  contemplated  being  absent  from  the  city  dur- 
ing the  following  winter,  and  probably  in  every  winter 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  decision  in  the 
matter  was  accepted  by  the  congregation  with  great 
reluctance,  and  the  thanks  of  the  members  were  ten- 
dered him  for  his  long  and  efficient  service. 

Another,  which  caused,  for  a  time,  great  distress 
to  the  people  and  confusion  in  the  work  of  the 
Church,  was  the  partial  destruction  of  the  main  audi- 
torium by  a  cyclone  on  the  night  of  the  20th  day  of 
August,  1904.  The  storm  tore  loose  from  the  walls 
two  pinnacles,  composed  of  solid  masonry,  and  hurled 
them  through  the  roof,  carrying  down  into  the  cellar 
the  gallery  on  the  Nicollet  Avenue  side  and  the  vesti- 
bule thereunder.  By  reason  of  this  disaster  the  con- 
gregation was  compelled  to  worship  in  the  lecture 
room  for  about  three  months.  The  cost  of  repairing 
the  damage  amounted  to  about  $12,000.00. 


Special  mention  should  also  be  here  made  of  the 
liberality  of  our  people,  during  these  recent  years,  in 
providing"  the  funds  with  which  to  build  the  new  Hope 
Chapel,  and  to  pay  the  debt  on  Oliver  Church  and  to 
assist  other  weaker  churches  in  erecting  for  them- 
selves houses  of  worship.  This  is  referred  to  in  an- 
other chapter  also.  These  offerings  w^ere  made  as  our 
contribution  to  the  20th  Century  Memorial  fund. 

Another  event  of  great  interest  was  the  participation 
of  the  Church  in  the  simultaneous  campaign,  under  the 
leadership  of  J.  Wilber  Chapman,  D.  D.  This  cam- 
paign began  in  November,  1905,  and  continued  for  live 
weeks.  Westminster  Church  was  selected  by  the 
Committee  in  charge  as  the  central  church  for  the 
movement,  and  in  it  Dr.  Chapman  preached  nightly  to 
large  audiences.  In  the  six  months  immediately  fol- 
lowing these  services,  partly  as  a  result  thereof  and 
largely  also  as  a  result  of  the  faithful  pastoral  ser- 
vices which  had  preceded  and  which  accompanied  and 
followed  them,  there  were  received  into  the  Church 
upon  confession  of  faith,  two  hundred  and  five  per- 
sons, by  far  the  largest  number  thus  received  in  any 
one  year,  in  the  history  of  the  Church.  The  highest 
tribute  which  can  be  paid  to  the  work  of  Dr.  Chapman 
and  his  co-laborers,  is  to  bear  testimony  to  its  lasting 
quality  and  to  the  good  sense  and  tact  which  charac- 
terized it.  While  this  great  movement  interrupted 
for  many  weeks  the  regular  work  of  the  Church,  yet 


First  Church  Edifice, 
Fourth    Street   between    Nicollet    and    Hennepin.      As    it   Appeared    When    First 

Erected 


89 

that  work  was  at  once  resumed  after  the  evangelists 
had  left  us,  without  friction  and  without  any  spiritual 
relapse,  such  as  often  follows  such  special  movements. 
Since  then,  the  Church  has  enjoyed  as  it  had  constant- 
ly enjoyed  prior  to  that  time,  a  quiet  and  effective 
work  of  grace. 

The  last  special  matter  which  need  be  mentioned  in 
this  connection,  was  the  organization  of  a  men's  so- 
ciety for  aggressive  Christian  work.  This  was  organ- 
ized in  March,  1907,  and  immediately  became  affiliated 
with  the  National  Presbyterian  Brotherhood.  The 
officers  of  the  Church  hope  for,  and  expect,  great  as- 
sistance from  this  body  in  future  years. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

TKHeBtminster  Cburcb  in  tbe  Mork  of  Gburcb 
Extension  ot  Cit^  Bvanoelisation. 

The  history  of  Westminster  Church  in  city  mission 
work  is  comparatively  brief.  The  present  activity  be- 
gan in  1882,  although  Westminster  had  become  the 
mother  of  two  missions,  which  had  developed  into  fully 
organized  churches,  prior  to  that  date. 

In  1879  there  was  a  little,  white  Mission  Chapel  on 
Western  Avenue,  near  the  Cedar  Lake  road.  The 
chapel  was  owned  and  had  been  built  by  this  Church 
in  1873.  It  was  our  Western  Avenue  Mission.  In 
1879  that  Mission  was  organized  into  the  Fifth  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Minneapolis.  In  January,  1873, 
Judge  Vanderburgh,  who  was  then  an  elder  in  this 
Church,  organized  and  became  superintendent  of  a 
Mission  School  on  Franklin  Avenue,  in  what  was  then 
the  extreme  southern  part  of  the  city.  Some  years 
later  the  Trustees  of  Westminster  Church  bought  from 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  which  had  moved  from 
the  corner  of  First  Avenue  South  and  Eighth  Street  to 
the  corner  of  Park  Avenue  and  Tenth  Street,  their 
property  on  First  Avenue.  Upon  this  stood  a  little 
frame  church  building,  which  was  given  in  1875  to  the 


91 

Mission  on  Franklin  Avenue  and  moved  to  the  lot  given 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Jackson,  since  deceased,  for  the  Mission. 
The  Mission  was  organized  as  Franklin  Avenue  Pres- 
byterian Church,  December  31,  1875,  and  that  Church 
continued,  until  very  recent  years,  to  worship  in  the 
same  building  which  was  then  given  to  it  by  this 
Church,  but  which  had  been,  of  course,  greatly  en- 
larged. 

After  establishing  these  two  Missions,  this  Church 
was  wholly  inactive  in  city  mission  work  until  the 
winter  of  1881-82.  The  organization  of  Hope  Mission 
was  due  to  the  faithful  labors  of  a  layman,  Mr.  E.  F. 
Pomeroy,  who  subsequently  became  one  of  our  most 
honored  elders,  and  the  memory  of  whose  useful.  God- 
ly life  is  still  a  benediction  to  those  who  knew  him.  It 
began  with  a  little  Sabbath  school  in  a  deserted  store 
building,  located  on  Second  Street  about  where  the 
Northern  Pacific  freight  house  now  stands.  Mr.  Pom- 
eroy was  aided  in  his  work  by  Messrs.  George  H. 
Miller  and  Mr.  W.  F.  Rodgers. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  minutes  of  session 
meetings  explain  themselves: 

"January  4,  1882.  Mr.  E.  F.  Pomeroy  appeared  be- 
fore Session  and  stated  that  he  had  found  a  suitable 
location  and  building  for  establishing  a  Mission  School 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  city,  and  asked  Session  to 
sanction  the  establishment  of  a  school  there  under  the 
auspices  of  this  Church.     Such  sanction  was  gladly 


92 

given."  This  mission  was  named  by  its  founder 
"Hope." 

On  March  6,  1882,  the  following  minutes  appear: 
"The  interests  of  Hope  Mission  were  discussed  and  also 
the  practicability  of  establishing  a  new  mission  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  city." 

On  June  1,  1882,  the  Session  ordered  the  first  col- 
lection for  Hope  Mission, 

About  this  time  the  land,  on  which  was  located  the 
little  store  in  which  the  Mission  met,  was  sold  to  the 
Northern  Pacific  Company,  and  the  Mission  was  com- 
pelled to  seek  another  location.  Lots  were  purchased 
on  the  corner  of  Third  Street  and  Ninth  Avenue  North 
by  seven  members  of  our  Church,  viz.  George  H. 
Miller,  T.  B.  Janney,  A.  R.  Miller,  T.  A.  Sammis,  H. 
G.  Sidle,  Wm.  M.  Tenney  and  Charles  T.  Thomp- 
son; a  little  unused  frame  church  was  bought  and 
moved  on  to  the  lots  and  the  Mission  entered  upon 
a  new  career  of  prosperity.  Before  many  years,  this 
Church  was  outgrown  and  a  large  brick  chapel  was 
built.  The  gentlemen  just  named  contributed  them- 
selves liberally  for  its  erection,  raised  some  money  by 
personal  solicitation,  and  secured  the  rest  by  giving 
their  note,  secured  by  mortgage. 

In  1889  the  Trustees  of  the  Church,  acting  under 
authority  of  a  resolution  of  the  congregation,  accepted 
a  conveyance  of  the  title  to  this  property,  assuming 
and  agreeing  to  pay  the  mortgage  thereon.     Soon  after 


93 

the  year  1900  the  whole  character  of  the  neighborhood 
around  the  Chapel  began  to  change  rapidly.  The  fam- 
ilies, from  which  its  constituency  was  drawn,  were 
crowded  out  by  the  gradual  increase  of  the  railroad 
yards,  and  also  by  an  influx  of  Russian  Jews,  who 
would  neither  attend,  nor  permit  their  children  to  at- 
tend, Sabbath  School  or  preaching  services. 

For  these  reasons  a  new  and  more  favorable  location 
was  sought.  Services  were  held  from  September, 
1902,  to  December,  1903,  in  Independent  Order  of  For- 
esters' Hall,  2011-3017  Washington  Avenue  North.  In 
1903  a  large  lot  on  Washington  Avenue  North,  between 
Nineteenth  and  Twentieth  Avenues,  was  purchased. 
Upon  this,  a  large  and  beautiful  chapel  was  erected  at 
a.  cost  of  about  $20,000.00,  which  was  dedicated  De- 
cember 20th,  1903,  and  is  now  occupied  for  mission 
purposes. 

On  June  12,  1882,  Elder  Charles  T.  Thompson  was 
approached  by  a  Mr.  Marsh,  a  member  of  Plymouth 
Church,  who  said,  "I  own  a  little  chapel  on  the  flats  on 
the  river  bank  among  the  Bohemians  and  Scandina- 
vians. It  has  cost  me  about  $160.00.  I  cannot  get 
Plymouth  Church  to  take  up  the  work  or  take  any  in- 
terest in  it.  Among  my  seven  teachers  are  three  from 
Westminster  Church.  Won't  you  buy  the  building 
and  carry  on  the  work?" 

Mr.  Thompson  bought  the  building  the  same  day,  a 
bill  of  sale  being  taken  to  the  Trustees  of  Westminster; 


94 

and  the  work  was  soon  adopted  by  the  Session.  Mr. 
A.  J.  Condit  became  the  first  Superintendent,  and  he 
continued  to  serve  in  that  capacity  for  many  years 
thereafter. 

The  funny  little  building,  purchased  from  Mr. 
Marsh,  was  soon  outgrown,  although  it  was  twice  en- 
larged; then  a  new  building  nearer  to  the  top  of  the 
bluff  was  built.  This  in  time  was  outgrown,  and  the 
present  commodious  chapel  was  erected  on  the  corner 
of  Twentieth  Avenue  South  and  Two  and  One  Half 
Street.  This  building  has  been  since  remodeled  and 
greatly  improved. 

To  Mrs.  Mary  Stuart,  now  deceased,  who  united 
with  Westminster  Church  in  1867,  belonged  the  honor 
of  providing  a  large  part  of  the  funds  for  the  erection 
of  the  present  Riverside  Chapel.  By  her  last  will  and 
testament,  which  took  effect  through  her  decease,  only 
a  few  weeks  after  its  execution,  she  gave  to  the  Church 
the  sum  of  $5,000.00,  to  be  used  under  the  direction  of 
Session,  for  the  erection  of  a  chapel  to  be  always  un- 
der the  control  of  Westminster  Church.  The  pro- 
ceeds of  this  legacy  were  used  in  erecting  the  new 
building  at  Riverside. 

Farview  Mission  was  organized  in  1888  by  work- 
ers from  this  Church.  The  work  was  first  carried  on 
in  a  small  house  on  Third  Street,  near  Twenty-sixth 
Avenue  North.  Having  soon  outgrown  its  accommo- 
dations, the  lots  on  the  corner  of  Twenty-sixth  Ave- 


95 

nue  North  and  Sixth  Street,  opposite  Farview  Park, 
were  selected  and  purchased  by  George  H.  Miller, 
Allen  Hill,  Wm.  M.  Tenney,  T.  B.  Janney  and  C.  T. 
Thompson,  most  of  whom  had  also  aided  in  the  pur- 
chase of  the  land  for  Hope  Chapel,  and  the  little  build- 
ing, which  Hope  Mission  had  outgrown,  was  moved 
upon  the  lots.  This  chapel  was  several  times  enlarged 
and  a  successful  work  was  there  carried  on  for  many 
years.  The  Mission  was,  on  the  22nd  day  of  October, 
1900,  officially  given  up  by  this  Church  out  of  a  spirit 
of  comity  for  a  neighboring  Presbyterian  Church, 
Highland  Park,  which  thought  that  Westminster  was, 
by  the  work  in  Farview  Chapel,  encroaching  upon 
the  field  belonging  to  Highland  Park.  The  property 
was  afterward  sold  by  the  Trustees,  and  the  money  re- 
ceived therefrom  was  used  to  assist  in  saving  the  prop- 
erty of  Oliver  Presbyterian  Church  from  loss  under 
foreclosure  of  mortgage. 

Elim  Presbyterian  Church,  while  not  now  under  the 
charge  of  the  Session  of  this  Church,  is  yet  one  of  her 
children.  We  took  up  the  field  in  1891,  after  it  had 
been  abandoned  by  two  other  of  our  Presbyterian 
Churches.  We  sustained  Rev.  Mr.  Benson  in  his  faith- 
ful labors  there  and  furnished  him  Charles  S.  Cairns, 
now  one  of  our  most  efficient  Elders,  but  then  one  of 
our  Deacons,  as  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  School. 
The  Mission  was  organized  into  an  independent 
Church,  contrary  to  the  better  judgment  of  our  Ses- 


96 

sion.  Nevertheless,  Westminster  has  ever  since  con- 
tinued to  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  work  there ; 
and  has  contributed  largely,  also,  to  the  cost  of  erect- 
ing for  it  a  new  house  of  worship. 

The  mission  work  of  our  Church  has  not  been  con- 
fined to  the  four  fields  above  mentioned. 

In  1882  there  was  organized  a  committee  of  business 
men,  composed  of  six  laymen,  George  Blake,  David 
Blake,  George  H.  Miller,  A.  R.  Miller,  Wm.  M.  Tenney 
and  Charles  T.  Thompson  from  this  Church  and  two, 
J.  C,  Whitney  and  EU  Torrance,  from  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church.  It  was  self  appointed  and  called  it- 
self "The  Business  Men's  Committee  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church."  It  was  organized  because  there  seemed 
to  be  a  work  necessary  to  be  done,  and  neither  the  min- 
isters of  this  city  nor  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Paul  could 
be  aroused  to  do  it.  The  committee  continued  in  ex- 
istence for  about  one  year,  when  it  transferred  its 
work  to  the  Presbyterian  Alliance.  In  the  year  of  its 
existence  it  founded  the  following  Churches,  or  the 
Sabbath  Schools  out  of  which  the  Churches  have 
grown,  viz:  Highland  Park,  Bethlehem,  Bloomington 
Avenue,  (now  Oliver)  Merriam  Park,  the  Mission 
which  has  grown  into  Stewart  Memorial  Church,  Shi- 
loh  Church  and  Lyndale  Mission,  the  organization 
of  which  was  especially  due  to  the  work  of  Elder  Ten- 
ney. This  Mission  was  afterwards  given  over  to  the 
Congregational  Church,  by  the  Superintendent  placed 


97 

over  it  by  the  Committee,  without  the  consent  or  pre- 
vious knowledge  of  the  Committee.  It  is  now  Lyn- 
dale  Congregational  Church.  The  support  and  control 
of  Bethlehem  Mission,  which  was  organized  in  1883, 
was  assumed  by  Westminster  Church,  until  it  was  or- 
ganized by  Presbytery  as  an  independent  Church  in 
1884. 

While  Oliver  Church  (first  called  Bloomington  Ave- 
nue Church)  was  organized  by  this  business  men's 
committee,  and  it  was  never  under  our  control  as  a 
mission,  3'et,  it  can  truly  be  said,  that  she  owes  her 
present  existence  largely  to  Westminster  Church.  Our 
members  contributed  a  very  large  part  of  the  cost  of 
erecting  its  first  building.  When  the  present  building 
was  to  be  erected,  in  response  to  an  appeal  from  this 
pulpit,  our  members  generally  contributed  nearly  five 
thousand  dollars  for  that  purpose,  while  Mrs.  Sarah  E. 
Oliver,  as  her  contribution,  gave  real  and  personal 
property,  from  which  the  trustees  of  Oliver  Church 
realized  nearly  $25,000.00. 

The  history  of  the  founding  of  Highland  Park 
Church  is  interesting.  One  Saturday  evening,  the 
Committee  decided  that  there  should  be  a  Church  in 
the  Highland  Park  neighborhood.  We  had  no  church 
building,  no  lot,  no  congregation.  The  members  of 
the  committee  themselves  contributed  $1100.00  at 
once.  In  two  weeks  from  the  next  day,  they  had  lots 
bought  and  largely  paid  for,  a  church  which  cost  $900 


98 

completed,  a  congregation  of  seventy  worshipping  in 
it  and  a  minister  in  charge  of  the  field.  The  work  of 
establishing  Merriam  Park  Church  and  erecting  for  it 
a  building,  was  nearly  as  rapid,  the  time  occupied  in 
so  doing  being  about  four  weeks. 

Of  late  years,  no  new  enterprises  have  been  started 
by  us ;  but  our  work  has  been  along  the  line  of  estab- 
lishing and  strengthening  the  missions  and  the  feebler 
Churches  of  the  city. 

During  the  last  six  years,  Westminster  Church  has 
erected  the  new  Hope  Chapel  building;  it  has  paid 
nearly  $20,000.00  of  indebtedness  on  Oliver  Presby- 
terian Church,  thus  saving  its  property  from  loss  under 
mortgage  foreclosure;  it  has  also  paid  a  large  part  of 
the  indebtedness  on  House  of  Faith  Presbyterian 
Church ;  and  it  has  largely  assisted  in  the  erection  or 
enlargement  of  houses  of  worship  for  the  Bethany, 
Bethlehem,  Grace  and  Shiloh  Presbyterian  Churches. 
Besides  this,  she  has  aided,  in  the  same  way,  many 
weak  Churches  throughout  the  State ;  and  has  paid  for 
many  years  one-half  of  the  yearly  disbursements  of  the 
City  Mission  Committee  of  Minneapolis  Presbytery 
and  a  considerable  part  of  the  salary  of  the  Pastor  at 
Large  of  St.  Cloud  Presbytery.  The  tabulated  state- 
ment of  church  finances  and  benevolences  will  tell  bet- 
ter the  story,  of  what  has  been  done  along  those  lines. 
The  work  done  by  the  Women's  Societies  is  given  in 
a  separate  chapter. 


99 

So  much  for  the  history  of  our  mission  work.  How 
about  the  results?  If  you  want  to  see  the  results  of 
our  work  in  city  missions,  you  have  but  to  look 
around.  That  galaxy  of  active  churches,  Fifth,  Frank- 
lin Avenue,  Highland  Park,  Bethlehem,  Stewart  Me- 
morial, Oliver,  Elim,  Merriam  Park  and  Shiloh  speak 
for  themselves.  No  one  can  begrudge  the  time  and 
money  spent  in  starting  them.  As  for  our  two  Mis- 
sions which  are  our  joy  and  our  pride,  Hope  and  Riv- 
erside, eveiyone  who  knows  anything  about  them,  will 
join  in  saying  that  they  more  than  pay.  The  history 
of  these  Missions  is  known  throughout  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  in  this  country.  In  both  of  these  we 
have  a  consecrated,  settled  pastor,  and  there  conduct 
evangelistic  services.  Sabbath  Schools  and  prayer 
meetings,  all  of  which  are  well  attended;  and  in  both 
we  have  a  regular  congregation  calling  the  chapel 
its  Church  home,  and  in  both  many  are  converted  to 
Christ  and  welcomed  into  the  Church. 

In  them  also,  the  ladies  of  our  City  Mission  Society 
are  reaching  out  to  save  the  young,  before  they  have 
had  their  minds  and  hearts  filled  with  evil,  through 
the  Christian  Kindergarten  and  Industrial  School ;  and 
are  carrying  on  many  other  forms  of  benevolent  and 
Christian  work. 

Statistics  are  uninteresting,  but  they  are  often  con- 
vincing. In  these  Missions  an  army  of  fully  200  con- 
secrated men  and  women  from  this  congregation  are 


100 

working  faithfull}^  as  missionaries,  officers  and  teach- 
ers. Through  them  we  are  reaching,  weekly,  an  aver- 
age of  1500  children  in  the  Sabbath  Schools  and  near- 
ly 300  in  the  Kindergarten  and  Industrial  Schools.  We 
are  also  reaching,  in  the  Sabbath  evangelistic  services 
and  the  prayer  meetings,  a  multitude  of  adults  and 
young  people. 

The  history  of  the  mission  work  of  this  Church  is 
an  honorable  one,  and  we  are  justified  in  taking  pride 
in  it.  There  are  few  churches,  if  any,  of  any  denomina- 
tion, in  this  land  or  any  other,  of  which  it  can  be  said, 
as  it  can  of  this  dear  Church,  that  she  is  the  mother  of 
five  Churches  and  three  large  Missions,  and  that  she 
has  been  the  largest  instrumentality  in  establishing  six 
other  Churches;  and  all  this  has  been  accomplished  in 
a  period  of  about  twenty-five  years.  There  are  few 
Churches  which  are  blessed  with  such  an  army  of  ac- 
tive Christian  workers,  as  we  send  out  to  these  Mis- 
sions. 

Our  history  in  this  respect  is  honorable ;  but  we  hope 
for  greater  things  in  years  to  come. 

An  account  of  the  work  of  this  Church  in  city  mis- 
sions would  not  be  complete  without  some  reference  to 
those,  who  have  been  especially  active  and  efficient  in 
that  work.  No  mention  is  made  here  of  the  good 
women  who  have  worked  through  their  own  society, 
as  an  inspiring  account  of  their  work  is  given  in  an- 
other chapter.     It  would  not  be  possible  to  speak  of 


101 

all  who  have  aided  greatly  to  make  this  work  a  suc- 
cess ;  there  are  so  many,  who  have  labored  long  and 
successfully,  that  it  is  difficult  to  mention  some  and 
omit  others;  but  there  are  some  who  should  be  men- 
tioned in  this  connection. 

In  the  earliest  years  of  our  city  mission  history,  we 
had  Charles  E.  Vanderburgh  working  faithfully  at 
Franklin  Avenue  Mission,  and  Samuel  M.  AVilliams  at 
Western  Avenue  Alission. 

In  the  earlier  years  of  Hope  Mission,  we  had  the 
sainted  Pomeroy,  with  the  3ililler  Brothers,  T.  A.  Sam- 
mis  and  others;  Piatt  W.  Lyon  has  also  done  splendid 
work  there  and  also  at  FarvieAv,  but  the  one  who  has 
been  above  all  others  self-denying  and  efficient  in  the 
work  of  the  Chapel  is  James  Paige,  who,  in  earlier 
years,  did  a  good  work  also  in  Riverside.  At  the  pres- 
ent time  also  Elder  J.  R.  Gordon  is  giving  a  great 
amount  of  personal  time  and  attention  to  this  work, 
especially  in  connection  with  the  Sabbath  evening  ser- 
vice. 

At  Farview  we  had  H.  B.  Gardner  and  his  family, 
who  held  the  work  together  through  many  trying 
days. 

At  Riverside  we  can  only  mention  A.  J.  Condit,  its 
first  Superintendent,  and  the  saintly  S.  P.  Farrington, 
Franc  B.  Daniels,  Miss  M.  Eva  Mclntyre  and  Miss 
Jean  Hamilton,  all  of  whom  did  such  a  splendid  work 
in  earlier  days;  and  in  later  days  James  Paige,  J.  R. 


102 

Gordon,  L.  K.  Thompson,  R.  E.  Esterl)'-,  R.  G.  Morri- 
son, C.  V.  Smith,  C.  B.  Brooks,  George  E.  Murphy  and 
others.  Especial  praise  is  due  to  the  splendid,  self-de- 
nying work  of  Miss  Ellen  Mather,  and  to  the  long  con- 
tinued and  valuable  services  of  J.  Edward  Smith  and 
of  Robert  G.  Morrison.  While  declining  to  accept  the 
office  of  Superintendent,  which  was  often  tendered  to 
him,  Mr.  Morrison  served  for  many  years  as  Assistant 
Superintendent.  A  large  share  of  the  credit  for  the 
work  done  at  Riverside,  is  due  to  him.  No  reference 
is  here  made  to  the  pastors  at  the  Chapels,  as  they  are 
mentioned  in  another  chapter. 

The  following  minute,  adopted  by  Session  in  May, 
1904,  outlines  clearly  what  has  been  done,  and  what  we 
hope  to  do,  through  the  work  at  Hope  and  Riverside 
Chapels : 

"In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  City  Mission  work  of 
Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  has  grown  to  pro- 
portions far  beyond  the  expectation  or  thought  of  its 
friends ;  and  especially  in  view  of  the  diversified  char- 
acter of  this  work,  the  Session  deems  it  wise  to  adopt 
a  minute  setting  forth  its  judgment  and  wishes  regard- 
ing the  chapel  property,  the  work  to  be  there  con- 
ducted and  the  methods  by  which  this  work  shall  be 
carried  on. 

This  is  done  from  the  belief,  that  a  definite  under- 
standing along  these  lines  will  make  the  labors  of  our 
chapel  officers  and  workers  more  efficient,  and  will  pre- 


103 

vent  any  confusion  or  misunderstanding  among  the 
workers  in  the  various  departments. 

The  chapel  work  of  this  Church  has  been  a  gradual 
development,  since  its  feeble  beginning  in  1882.  It 
was  instituted  without  any  definite  plans  for  the  fu- 
ture, but  solely  with  a  desire  to  accomplish  as  much 
good  as  possible  with  the  facilities  at  our  disposal. 
Many  plans  of  work  have  been  tried  from  time  to  time, 
some  of  which  have  been  successful  and  many  of  which 
have  proved  to  be  failures. 

In  each  field  the  attempt  was  made,  under  the  direc- 
tions of  Presbytery,  to  organize  and  carry  on  an  inde- 
pendent Church ;  but  in  both  the  attempt  proved  to  be 
a  disastrous  failure,  and  the  work  was  again  given  over 
by  Presbytery  to  the  Session  of  Westminster  Church. 

After  years  of  experience  and  experiment,  the  Ses- 
sion has  adopted  the  policy  here  outlined,  believing 
that  the  experience  of  the  past  has  clearly  demonstrat- 
ed the  fact,  that  thereby  the  most  good  can  be  accom- 
plished in  the  Master's  name  and  for  the  greatest  num- 
ber. 

1st.  The  work  at  the  chapels  is  designed  primarily 
to  reach  the  children  and  young  people  of  the  neighbor- 
hoods, in  which  they  are  situated,  and  to  educate  them, 
especially  along  religious  and  moral  lines ;  and,  through 
the  agency  of  the  Sabbath  School,  industrial  school, 
kindergarten  and  home  visitation,  to  aid  them  to  grow 
up  into  useful  and  upright  men  and  women,  and  finally 


104 

to  consecrate  their  lives  to  Christ.  A  large  propor- 
tion of  those,  who  give  so  liberally  for  our  chapel  work, 
do  so  primarily  because  they  know  that  the  work  is  of 
this  character.  For  these  reasons  the  Session  desires 
that  the  work  of  the  Sabbath  School  shall  be  magni- 
fied, and  that  everything  possible  shall  be  done  to  make 
it  a  success  along  the  lines  here  indicated. 

3nd,  While  the  work  indicated  in  the  1st  article  is, 
because  of  the  peculiar  character  of  the  fields,  of  pri- 
mary importance,  it  is  also  the  desire  of  Session  that 
the  work  of  God  shall  be  preached  in  the  chapels  with 
fervency  and  power.  While  Session  does  not  assume 
to  dictate  to  the  pastors  in  those  fields  what  or  how 
they  shall  preach,  it  yet  deems  it  a  duty  to  urge  upon 
them  that  the  services  be  given,  as  far  as  possible,  an 
Evangelistic  character,  with  a  view  to  awakening  all 
who  attend  them  to  a  realization  of  their  need  of  a 
Savior  and  leading  them  to  accept  Christ. 

3rd.  Session  realizes  that  those  converted  in  the 
chapels  and  other  Christians  living  in  the  neighbor- 
hoods, who  may  desire  to  worship  at  the  chapels,  must 
be  given  a  church  home.  It,  therefore,  desires  that  at 
them  there  may  be  provided  all  such  religious,  educa- 
tional and  social  advantages  and  such  pastoral  over- 
sight, as  is  possible  under  the  circumstances.  This  is 
done  without  any  expectation  that  either  field  will  ever 
grow  into  an  independent,  self-governed.  Church.  In 
order  to  give  to  those  worshiping  at  the  chapels  such 


Pulpit  of   First  Church   Edifice, 
Fourth  Street,  between  Nicollet  and  Hennepin  Avenues 


105 

pastoral  care  and  oversight,  it  is  deemed  very  desir- 
able that  the  pastors  should  reside  near  the  chapels. 

4th.  In  the  conduct  of  this  work  the  pastor,  Sab- 
bath School  Superintendent,  and  the  organization  for 
carrying  on  the  industrial  and  kindergarten  work  are 
responsible  to  and  under  the  direct  control  of  the  Ses- 
sion as  a  whole.  In  view  of  the  magnitude  of  the 
work,  the  care  and  cr\^ersight  of  the  industrial  and 
kindergarten  branches  in  both  chapels  has  been  dele- 
gated to  the  Women's  City  Mission  Society,  and  the 
general  chapel  work  has  been  delegated  to  two  com- 
mittees, each  composed  of  six  elders,  one  committee 
for  each  chapel;  the  pastor  of  each  chapel  and  the 
Sabbath  School  Superintendent,  if  not  a  member  of 
Session,  shall  each  be  an  advisory  member  of  the  com- 
mittee for  that  chapel. 

5th.  It  is  an  inflexible  rule  of  Session  that  the 
chapel  work  must  be  carried  on  without  leaving  an  in- 
debtedness to  be  carried  over  to  the  next  year.  The 
raising  of  the  necessary  funds  for  this  purpose  makes 
a  serious  demand  upon  the  time  and  strength  of  the 
finance  committee  of  Session.  It  is,  therefore,  urged 
that  each  committee  make  its  preliminary  estimates 
for  each  year  as  carefully  and  conservatively  as  pos- 
sible; and  that  the  expenditures  be  kept  within  the  es- 
timates. To  make  this  possible,  it  is  necessary  that 
no  bills  be  contracted  by  any  chapel  officer  or  worker, 
without  the  previous  authorization  of  the  chapel  com- 


106 

mittee  or  of  someone  of  its  members  delegated  for  that 
purpose ;  and  that  no  bills  be  paid  until  audited  by  the 
committee. 

6th.  While  the  title  to  the  chapel  property  is  vested 
in  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Westminster  Church,  the 
care  and  oversight  of  the  property  has  been  by  the 
Board  delegated  to  Session.  Session  in  turn  has  dele- 
gated it  to  the  respective  chapel  committees.  These 
committees  should  determine,  subject  to  final  control 
of  the  full  Session,  the  character  of  the  work  and  of 
the  services  to  be  conducted  in  their  respective  chapels. 
In  view  of  the  difficulty  of  securing  a  meeting  of  the 
full  committee  to  pass  upon  the  various  questions, 
which  may  arise  regarding  the  uses  to  which  the  prop- 
erty shall  be  put,  each  committee  should  appoint  one 
of  its  members  as  chapel  superintendent,  with  author- 
ity to  act  upon  such  questions,  when  it  would  be  im- 
possible or  very  difficult  to  secure  a  meeting  of  the 
-committee. 


CHAPTER  V. 
TKHestminster  ipastors**Hn  Hpprecfation. 

Few  churches,  if  any,  of  this  or  any  other  land,  have 
been  more  signally  blessed  than  has  ours,  in  the  men 
who  have  been  its  pastors.  The  seal  of  divine  ap- 
proval has  been  set  to  the  ministry  of  each.  It  is  prop- 
er to  bear  testimony,  in  this  little  history  of  our  Church, 
to  the  character,  faithfulness  and  ability  of  all  who 
have  held  the  pastoral  office  in  this  congregation.  They 
have  all  been  men  of  God,  wholly  consecrated  to  their 
high  calling.  They  have  been  tender,  loving  and  sym- 
pathetic as  pastors ;  evangelical  and  sound  in  the  faith  ; 
able  and  convincing  as  preachers ;  always  fearless  to 
denounce  wickedness  and  error  and  to  uphold  the 
truth ;  they  have  been  a  comfort  to  their  people  in 
sorrow  and  have  rejoiced  with  them  in  their  joys ;  they 
have  been  an  aid  to  them  in  their  spiritual  doubts  and 
search  after  the  light.  They  have  inspired  their  peo- 
ple with  zeal  in  the  Master's  service;  and  they  have 
been,  under  God,  a  blessing  not  only  to  this  people 
but  also  to  this  City  and  to  the  State.  A  large  share 
of  the  success  of  this  Church  can  be  ascribed  to  the 
blessing  of  God  upon  their  ministries  among  us. 

While  these  things  can  be  said  of  them  all,  yet  in 
many  respects  they  were  very  unlike. 


108 

Of  our  first  pastor,  Rev.  Robert  Strong,  Elder  Louis 
H.  Williams,  who  knew  him  well,  has  left  this  record. 

"He  did  a  good  work  among  us,  not  only  in  bringing 
into  the  Church  some  of  our  most  efficient  members, 
but  also  in  developing  a  spirit  of  liberality  and  mis- 
sionary zeal,  that  placed  us  among  the  front  rank  of 
contributors  to  all  the  aggressive  operations  of  our  de- 
nomination in  the  Northwest.  Of  him  it  may  be  said 
truly,  'The  zeal  of  thine  house  hath  eaten  me  up.'  His 
memory  is  still  fragrant  among  us." 

The  second  pastor  of  the  Church,  Air.  Robert  A.  Con- 
dit,  occupied  the  pulpit  for  nearly  three  years,  but 
for  only  a  year  and  nine  months  was  he  its  pastor. 
During  the  first  year  his  salary  was  only  at  the  rate  of 
$600.00  per  annum,  which  was  gradually  increased, 
until  he  was  receiving  at  the  rate  of  $1000.00  per  an- 
num during  the  latter  part  of  his  pastorate.  In  a  pre- 
ceding chapter  some  account  has  been  given  of  the 
progress  of  the  Church  under  Mr.  Condit's  pastorate, 
the  data  being  taken  from  the  historical  sermon  of  Dr. 
Sample.  In  that  sermon  we  find  the  following  addi- 
tional statement;  "He  h  retained  in  the  warm  affec- 
tions of  the  Church,  and  the  prayers  of  many  have 
followed  him  to  that  far  land,  which  was  rendered 
sacred  by  the  presence,  work  and  sufferings  of  the 
Great  Teacher  and  the  world's  Redeemer." 

On  the  22nd  day  of  October,  1905,  the  congregation 
of  this  Church  met,  at  the  time  of  the  usual  morning 


109 

service,  to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of  Robert  F.  Sam- 
ple. On  the  13th  day  of  August,  1905,  after  a  long 
and  useful  life,  he  had  entered  into  rest. 

The  Church  was  filled  with  those,  who  had  known 
him  personally  or  had  learned  to  honor  him  for  what 
they  had  heard  of  him.  The  great  gathering  was  of  it- 
self a  wonderful  tribute  to  his  memory,  for  nineteen 
years  had  elapsed  since  Robert  F.  Sample  had  closed 
his  pastoral  life  among  us;  and  yet,  though  so  long  a 
time  had  elapsed,  Westminster  Church  still  felt  so 
strongly  the  influence  of  the  great  work  done  by  him 
for  it  and  for  the  Master's  service  in  connection  with 
it,  that  its  members  rejoiced  at  the  opportunity  of 
bringing  a  tribute  of  honor  to  his  memory. 

No  one  who  had  known  him  personally,  or  who  had 
heard  the  story  of  the  magnificent  work  done  by  him 
for  this  Church  and  community,  could  fail  to  realize 
the  propriety  of  holding  such  a  service. 

Time  works  great  changes.  Those  which  had  oc- 
curred in  the  ministry  in  this  state,  since  Dr.  Sample 
had  finished  his  work  in  Minneapolis,  had  been  so 
great,  that  it  had  not  been  possible  to  secure  mem- 
bers of  that  honorable  profession,  who  had  known  him 
personally,  to  address  us  on  that  occasion. 

The  following  tribute  was  paid  to  his  memory  by 
this  historian,  whose  privilege  it  had  been  to  serve  as  a 
ruling  elder  in  the  Church  during  his  pastorate. 

"Robert  F.  Sample  was  born  in  Corning,  N.  Y.,  in 


110 

1828.  He  was  educated  at  Washington  and  Jefferson 
College,  which  has  sent  so  many  great  and  useful  men 
into  the  ministry  of  our  denomination.  He  took  his 
Theological  course  at  Western  Theological  Seminary 
at  Allegheny,  that  institution  which  has  always  been 
characterized  by  the  soundness  of  its  orthodoxy.  Hav- 
ing been  ordained  to  the  ministry,  he  took  his  first 
pastorate  at  Mercer,  Pa.,  from  which  he  went  to  Bed- 
ford in  the  same  state.  He  was  called  to  the  pastorate 
of  Westminster  Church  in  February,  1868;  preached 
his  first  serman  to  his  new  charge,  March  8,  1868 ;  was 
installed  as  pastor  April  16,  1868 ;  and  resigned  as  pas- 
tor October,  1886,  the  resignation  taking  effect  Januar}'- 
1,  1887.  He  came  to  Westminster  Church  with  a  mem- 
bership of  106 ;  he  left  it  with  a  membership  of  about 
900. 

Under  his  pastorate,  the  old  church  on  Fourth  Street 
was  greatly  enlarged ;  and  the  brown  stone  church  at 
the  corner  of  Seventh  Street  and  Nicollet  Avenue  was 
built  and  dedicated  free  of  debt. 

This  is  a  very  brief  sketch  of  his  life,  up  to  the  time 
at  which  he  left  us ;  the  details  must  be  supplied  by  the 
loving  memories  of  those  who  knew  him. 

During  most  of  his  ministry  among  us  the  good  pas- 
tor was  suffering  from  the  malady,  hay  fever,  which 
attacked  him  with  great  severity  in  August  of  every 
year  of  his  life,  and  which  always  left  him  with  asthma. 
Because  of  this,  his  delivery  was  slow  and  deliberate. 


HI 

though  sometimes  he  rose  to  magnificent  bursts  of 
eloquence.  But,  whatever  his  delivery,  no  one  could 
sit  for  any  length  of  time  under  his  preaching  without 
realizing,  that  he  was  a  sermonizer  of  unusual  power 
and  ability.     His  style  was  classic. 

In  the  Session  he  was  always  a  man  of  prayer.  All 
who  were  privileged  to  sit  in  that  body,  while  he  was 
pastor,  will  remember  the  earnest  petitions  sent  up  by 
him  to  the  throne  of  grace  for  God's  blessing  upon  the 
Church,  for  the  salvation  of  those  out  of  Christ,  for 
the  higher  Christian  development  of  the  members  of 
his  flock,  and  for  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in 
their  deliberations.  He  was  always  wise  in  counsel; 
a  man  of  excellent  judgment  in  devising  plans  and 
measures  for  the  highest  good  of  his  people. 

He  was  ever  courteous  in  his  treatment  of  the  rul- 
ing elders,  who  shared  with  him  the  honor  and  respon- 
sibility of  the  government  of  the  Church.  There  were, 
at  times,  differences  of  judgment  as  to  the  best  course 
to  pursue  in  emergencies  that  had  arisen;  but,  when 
the  judgment  of  the  pastor  was  at  variance  with  the 
judgment  of  the  majority  of  his  elders,  Dr.  Sample  ac- 
quiesced courteously  in  the  judgment  of  the  majority. 

He  rose  to  his  height,  as  a  Christian  minister,  in  his 
pulpit  work.  In  his  theology,  he  belonged  to  the  most 
conservative  school.  This  was  to  have  been  expected 
from  one  trained  in  the  college  and  seminary,  in  which 
he  was  prepared  for  his  life  work. 


112 

To  some,  he  seemed  too  severe.  This  was  not  sur- 
prising to  those  who  knew  him  well;  for  how  could 
any  one  be  other  than  severe,  who  had,  as  he  had,  such 
an  almost  overpowering  realization  of  the  awfulness 
of  sin  and  of  God's  hatred  of  it.  His  preaching  was 
characterized  by  this  intense  hatred  of  sin,  coupled 
with  a  longing  to  have  the  sinner  come  to  Christ.  His 
preaching,  therefore,  was  always  evangelical.  There 
never  have  been  heard  from  any  pulpit  more  tender 
presentations  of  the  love  of  God  for  the  sinner  and  of 
the  offer  of  salvation  through  the  merits  of  the  sacri- 
ficial death  of  Christ  alone,  than  were  presented  by 
him  from  the  pulpit  of  this  church.  He  stood  always 
and  steadfastly  for  those  great  doctrines  of  our  Church, 
a  sinner  lost  and  needing  a  saviour;  and  salvation 
through  Jesus  Christ  alone. 

The  last  characteristic  of  Dr.  Sample's  pulpit  work, 
which  need  be  mentioned,  is  that  in  it  he  always  hon- 
ored the  third  person  of  the  Trinity — the  Holy  Spirit. 
He  believed  in  His  personality,  presence  and  work; 
always  invoked  His  aid  in  his  preaching  and  pastoral 
work.  There  doubtless  have  been  many  greater  pul- 
pit orators  in  our  denomination  than  he  was,  but  none 
could  excel  him  in  beauty  of  style,  which  with  him  was 
classic ;  or  in  convincing  logic ;  or  in  earnestness  of  de- 
livery; or  in  the  faithfulness  with  which  he  expounded 
the  word. 

As  a  pastor,  Dr.  Sample  was  tender  and  sympathetic 


113 

to  a  remarkable  degree ;  it  was  not  strange  that,  when 
he  resigned  his  pastorate,  there  were  many  who  felt 
that  one  of  the  greatest  sorrows  of  life  had  come  upon 
them  and  that  they  could  never  become  reconciled  to 
it. 

Dr.  Sample's  affection  for  this  Church  ceased  only 
with  his  departure  to  his  higher  reward.  He  was  al- 
ways delighted  to  come  back  to  his  old  pulpit  and  to 
send  greetings  to  this  congregation.  In  March,  1892, 
the  good  ladies  of  the  congregation  arranged  a  delight- 
ful birthday  party,  in  honor  of  the  thirty-first  anniver- 
sary of  the  dedication  of  our  first  church  home.  To 
this  celebration  Dr.  Sample  sent  this  greeting.  "No 
friends  are  like  the  old  friends.  The  pastor  by  the  sea 
sends  loving  greetings  to  the  flock  by  the  river.  1st 
Thessolonians  2 :19 ;  Romans  15 :33." 

It  would  not  be  doing  full  justice  to  his  work  among 
us,  were  we  not  to  emphasize  his  tact  and  influence  in 
moulding  the  early  life  of  this  Church  along  denomi- 
national lines.  While  Dr.  Sample  was  never  a  narrow 
sectarian  and  always  placed  Christian  brotherhood  far 
above  denominationalism,  yet  he  dearly  loved  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  its  doctrines  and  polity.  He  took  a 
feeble  Church,  founded  upon  a  basis  of  Scotch-Irish 
and  Welsh  Presbyterians,  to  which  had  been  added 
many  from  other  denominations.  Quietly,  but  sure- 
ly, he  trained  and  educated  his  people,  until  he  had  de- 


114 

veloped  a  united  congregation,  loyal  to  the  denomina- 
tion with  which  it  was  affiliated. 

The  memory  of  Robert  F.  Sample  shall  endure  here 
as  long  as  Westminster  Church  shall  last.  He  has 
fought  a  good  fight ;  he  has  kept  the  faith ;  he  has  now 
received  that  crown  of  glory  which  was  laid  up  in 
Heaven  for  him.  He  rests  from  his  labors  but  his 
works  do  follow  him.  God  grant  that  this  dear 
Church,  so  closely  associated  with  his  name,  may  never 
lose  to  any  degree  its  firm  grasp  upon  those  great 
truths,  the  heinousness  of  sin;  redemption  through 
Jesus  Christ  alone;  the  ultimate  reward  of  those  who 
love  and  serve  Him  here." 

The  ministry  of  Robert  F.  Sample  was  followed  by 
that  of  David  James  Burrell.  He  came  to  us  from  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Dubuque,  Iowa,  where 
he  had  done  a  fine  work.  His  labors  among  us  lasted 
only  three  years,  when  he  was  called  away  to  the 
great  metropolis.  New  York,  where  it  was  hoped  he 
might  accomplish  that  seemingly  impossible  task, 
build  up  a  strong  congregation  in  an  old  fashioned, 
sleepy  downtown  church.  We  all  know  what  a  mag- 
nificent success  he  has  made  in  that  work;  and  his 
former  parishoners  here  delight  to  visit  the  old  Mar- 
ble Collegiate  Church,  to  witness  the  evidences  of  his 
successful  labors  and  to  rejoice  with  him  in  that  suc- 
cess. 

Short  though  his  pastorate  among  us,  yet  how  sue- 


115 

cessftil  he  made  it!  Tender  hearted  as  a  woman,  he 
endeared  himself  to  all  by  his  pastoral  visitations.  He 
attracted  crowds,  to  both  of  the  Sunday  services  of  the 
Church,  by  the  attractiveness  of  his  sermons,  his  fear- 
less denunciation  of  sin  and  iniquity  even  in  high 
places,  and  by  the  splendor  of  his  eloquence.  No  won- 
der the  pastoral  committee,  which  selected  him  as  our 
pastor,  fell  in  love  with  him,  as  soon  as  they  had 
listened  to  an  address  given  by  him  before  his  class  at 
Yale  University,  upon  the  occasion  of  the  class  re- 
union. 

During  his  brief  pastorate  here  his  heart  went  out 
to  the  churchless  people  of  this  city  and  state.  Kc 
gave  to  the  city  missions  and  church  extension  work 
an  impulse,  which  it  has  never  lost. 

Bright,  genial,  happy,  loving  and  tender-hearted 
David !  How  this  people  loved  him,  and  how  inconsol- 
able they  felt,  when  he  finally  decided  that  Providence 
was  calling  him  to  another  sphere  of  labor.  He  left 
here  aching  hearts,  but  he  carried  with  him  the  affec- 
tionate love  and  best  wishes  of  this  people. 

We,  who  love  him  still,  rejoice  now  with  him  that  he 
has  a  son,  David  DeForest  Burrell,  who  is  also  preach- 
ing with  acceptance  and  power  the  same  blessed  Gos- 
pel, which  his  father  loves  to  preach. 

But  God  was  good  to  us.  By  His  providential  lead- 
ing and  guidance,  the  pastoral  committee,  appointed 
to  choose  a  successor  to  Dr.  Burrell,  was  unmistakably 


116 

led  to  agree  upon  Rev.  Pleasant  Hunter,  D.  D.,  of 
Newark,  N.  J.  Dr.  Hunter  was  in  the  enjoyment  of 
a  happy  pastorate  in  Newark.  The  pastoral  commit- 
tee would  not,  for  this  reason,  present  a  call  to  this 
Church,  until  it  had  received  definite  information  that 
he  had  just  received,  and  was  considering,  calls  to  three 
other  important  churches  in  this  countiy. 

After  a  careful  and  prayerful  consideration  of  the 
matter,  he  accepted  our  call  and  the  pastoral  relation 
with  us  was  soon  consummated.  There  followed  one 
of  the  happiest  pastorates,  lasting  for  over  seven  and 
a  half  years,  which  has  ever  blessed  any  church.  With 
a  great  body  and  commanding  presence;  a  fine  deliv- 
ery, rising  often  to  heights  of  impassioned  eloquence; 
a  flow  of  words  like  a  torrent;  and  a  heart  of  love, 
greater  than  all  else,  it  was  no  wonder  that  he  soon 
captured  his  congregation  and  that  crowds  flocked  to 
hear  his  sermons.  For  the  troubled  and  afflicted  he 
was  always  the  sympathizing  comforter.  For  the  sin- 
ner he  had  always  a  message  of  hope  and  cheer.  It 
took  him  only  a  short  time  to  bind  the  hearts  of  this 
people  to  him  by  bonds  of  love,  whose  severing  left 
distress  and  sorrow  when  he  felt  called  upon,  as  he  be- 
lieved by  Providential  guidance,  to  resign  this  charge. 

By  the  same  Providential  leading,  Dr.  Hunter  has 
just  been  led  to  the  pastorate,  for  the  second  time,  of 
the  Newark  Church  from  which  we  called  him.  He 
has  accepted   it,   as   a   call   of   duty.     The   people   of 


117 

Westminster  Church  still  cherish  a  warm  affection  for 
him  and  will  follow  him  with  their  hearty  and  affec- 
tionate good  wishes,  and  their  earnest  prayers  that  he 
may  succeed  in  building  the  Newark  Church  up  once 
more  into  a  strong,  harmonious  and  useful  people. 

After  Dr.  Hunter  had  left  us,  a  pastoral  committee 
was  chosen  to  select  and  nominate  to  the  congregation 
his  successor.  From  the  beginning,  it  appreciated  the 
fact  that  the  task  would  be  a  difficult  one.  The  com- 
mittee does  not  hesitate  to  admit  that  Providence  took 
direction  of  their  work,  and  sent  to  the  congregation  a 
man  of  God's  own  choosing.  The  indications  that 
Providence  alone  was  responsible  for  the  coming  to  us 
of  John  E.  Bushnell,  were  too  evident  to  be  doubted. 

The  historian  spent  a  summer,  a  few  years  ago,  at 
old  Saybrook,  Connecticut.  His  cottage  was  next 
door  to  the  one  occupied  by  saintly  old  Dr.  Theodore 
L.  Cuyler.  Every  day  he  had  the  pleasure  of  a  delight- 
ful conversation  with  that  dear  old  minister.  The 
invariable  question  from  him,  at  every  meeting,  was, 
"Well,  brother,  how  is  our  John,  the  Beloved?"  So 
Dr.  Cuyler  thought  of  him,  and  so  he  is  to  us — Our 
"John,  the  beloved." 

As  his  people  watch  him  in  the  pulpit,  they  can  see 
back  of  him  a  line  of  Godly  New  England  ancestry. 
Tender  and  sympathetic  as  a  pastor,  he  is  the  support 
and  comfort  of  those  in  distress  and  sorrow.  His  pow- 
er as  a  sermonizer,  always  good  both  in  matter  and 


118 

delivery,  is  constantly  growing  and  becoming  more 
and  more  widely  recognized  every  day.  With  a  keen 
appreciation  of  those  cardinal  doctrines  a  sinner  lost, 
a  Divine  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  and  His  longing  to 
seek  and  to  save  those  who  are  lost,  he  brings  to  his 
people  tender  and  helpful  messages  of  warning,  love 
and  cheer.  His  sympathies  go  out  in  a  wonderful 
way  to  the  weak  and  struggling  churches  in  this  and 
neighboring  states,  so  that  all  of  the  pastors  and  work- 
ers of  these  churches  regard  the  pastor  of  Westmin- 
ster Church  as  their  friend.  His  ministry  among  us 
has  been  signally  blessed;  and  it  has  been  a  blessing 
also  to  this  entire  community.  At  this  anniversary 
season  this  people  unitedly  prays,  that  this  pastorate 
may  be  long  continued, 

Westminster  Church  has  always  been  character- 
ized by  intense  loyalty  to  its  pastor.  We  would  hesi- 
tate to  make  any  comparison  of  these  four  pastors. 
We  have  honored  and  loved  them  all.  Three  have  left 
us,  each  of  his  own  volition,  after  a  successful  pastor- 
ate, carrying  with  him  the  love  and  good  wishes  of 
this  people;  one  of  them  has  gone  to  his  heavenh-- 
home,  leaving  for  us  a  fragrant  memory.  For  him, 
who  is  now  our  under  shepherd,  we  entertain  a  deep 
love  and  true  devotion. 

If  this  Church  has  failed  to  accomplish  fully  the 
work,  which  God  intended  it  to  do,  the  fault  has  be- 


119 

longed  to  the  membership  of  the  Church  and  not  to 
any  one  who  has  been,  or  who  is  now,  its  pastor. 

In  addition  to  the  pastors  before  named,  we  have 
also  been  blessed  with  a  succession  of  pastoral  assist- 
ants, who  have  done  a  good  work  in  connection  with 
the  Church  or  its  chapels. 

The  first  ministerial  assistant  to  the  pastor  of  West- 
minster Church  was  Rev.  Charles  H.  Curtis,  who  came 
to  us  from  East  Portland,  Oregon,  in  the  summer  of 
1897,  as  assistant  to  Dr.  Hunter.  He  resigned  De- 
cember 3rd,  1900,  shortly  before  the  commencement  of 
the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Bushnell,  in  order  that  the  new 
pastor,  whoever  he  might  be,  might  be  free  to  choose 
his  own  assistant.  Mr.  Curtis  greatly  endeared  him- 
self to  the  entire  membership  of  the  Church  by  his 
untiring  energy  and  efficiency  and  by  his  unfailing 
courtesy  and  sweetness  of  disposition.  He  is  now 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Rochester, 
Minnesota. 

He  was  succeeded  in  June,  1903,  by  Rev.  Alexander 
G.  Patterson,  who  came  to  us  immediately  after  his 
graduation  from  McCormick  Theological  Seminary. 
Mr.  Patterson  rendered  very  efficient  service  until  Oc- 
tober, 1905,  when  he  became  pastor  at  Hope  Chapel, 
shortly  after  the  completion  of  its  new  building.  His 
labors  in  the  Chapel  have  been  wonderfully  blessed  of 
God.  He  has,  from  the  inception  of  his  pastorate,  car- 
ried on,  and  he  is  still  carrying  on  there,  a  remarkable 


120 

work.  In  April,  1905,  Rev.  Harry  G.  Finney,  a  grad- 
uate of  Princeton  Theological  Seminary  was  called  to 
become  the  pastor's  assistant  for  two  years.  He  en- 
tered upon  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  office  in 
June  of  that  year;  and  the  term  of  his  engagement  was 
renewed  in  1907.  A  resolution  was  adopted  by  the 
Session  of  the  Church,  at  the  time  he  was  invited  to 
renew  his  engagement  with  this  Church,  which  ex- 
presses our  appreciation  of  Mr.  Finney  and  his  ser- 
vices.    The  resolution  is  as  follows: 

"Resolved,  that,  as  a  Session,  we  desire  to  place  on 
record  a  minute  expressive  of  our  affection  for  Mr. 
Finney,  and  of  our  high  appreciation  of  the  earnest- 
ness, consecration,  tact  and  ability,  with  which  he  has 
discharged  the  important  and  often  trying  duties  of 
his  office;  and  our  acknowledgment  of  the  success, 
which  has  attended  his  labors  among  us.  He  has 
greatly  endeared  himself  to  us  all  and  to  the  entire 
membership  of  our  Church  and  congregation." 

The  first  pastor  at  Hope  Chapel  was  Rev.  T.  B. 
Greenlee,  who,  after  filling  the  position  for  only  a  few 
months,  applied  to  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Paul  for  the 
organization  of  an  independent  Church  on  that  field. 
Such  Church  was  organized,  against  the  wishes  and  the 
judgment  of  the  Session  of  this  Church.  The  move- 
ment was  not  a  success;  for,  after  a  feeble  existence 
of  about  one  year,  Mr.  Greenlee  left  the  field  and  the 
Presbytery  turned  the  whole  work  back  again  to  West- 


Robert  F.  Sample,  D.D., 
Pastor   1868- 1 887 


121 

minster  Church,  encumbered  with  a  debt  of  nearly 
$2000  which  the  Church  at  once  liquidated. 

Succeeding  Mr.  Greenlee,  during  the  pastorate  of 
Dr.  Burrell,  John  Handyside,  a  Scotch  lay  evange- 
list, now  an  ordained  minister  and  pastor  of  the  Church 
at  Atwater,  Minnesota,  labored  for  many  months  at 
the  Chapel  and  did  good  work  there. 

The  next  pastor  at  Hope  Chapel  was  Rev.  Samuel 
G.  Neill,  who  was  called  to  the  work  from  a  captaincy 
in  the  Salvation  Army.  The  attractions  of  the  old 
army  life  proved  to  be  too  strong  for  him,  for,  after 
six  months  of  work  at  Hope  Chapel,  he  left  the  field 
and  returned  to  the  Salvation  Army. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Captain  Neill,  the  character 
of  the  neighborhood  in  which  the  Chapel  was  situated, 
began  to  change  rapidly  and  it  soon  became  apparent 
that  more  of  an  institutional  work  was  needed  to  meet 
the  conditions  of  the  field. 

To  Captain  Neill's  successor,  Mr.  Charles  Stelzle, 
more  than  to  any  other  person,  is  due  the  inaugura- 
tion of  the  important  work  for  young  people  now  be- 
ing carried  on  at  Hope  Chapel.  He  exhibited,  in  the 
formulation  and  carrying  out  of  the  plans  for  this 
work,  those  unusual  gifts  of  mind  and  heart,  which  are 
now  being  so  signally  manifested  in  the  great  work 
which  he  is  accomplishing  as  Superintendent  of  the 
Department  of  Church  and  Labor  of  the  Board  of 
Home    Missions.     This   Church    should    rejoice   that, 


122 

through  the  work  at  Hope  Chapel,  it  had  some  part  in 
preparing  him  for  the  wider  field  of  usefulness,  in 
which  he  is  now  engaged. 

Mr.  Stelzle  resigned  the  pastorate  at  Hope  Chapel 
some  years  since,  in  order  to  undertake  what  appeared 
to  be  a  larger  work,  in  the  Markham  Presb3-terian 
Church  of  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

There  followed  successively  as  pastors  at  Hope 
Chapel,  Rev.  John  C.  Faries,  who  had  grown  up  as  a 
member  of  Westminster  Church,  Rev.  E.  W.  Brown 
and  Rev.  Neil  H.  Gilchrist.  Mr.  Faries  is  now  pastor 
of  the  Glen  Avon  Presbyterian  Church  of  Duluth, 
while  Mr.  Gilchrist  occupies  the  important  position  of 
pastor  at  large  of  Adams  Presbyter}'-  in  this  state. 

Mr.  Gilchrist's  successor  was  Rev.  A.  G.  Patterson, 
of  whom  we  have  before  spoken  more  fully. 

At  Riverside  Chapel  we  had  as  the  first  pastor,  Rev. 
Charles  C.  Christianson.  He  began  his  work  at  the 
Chapel  as  a  layman,  but  was  afterwards  ordained  as 
a  minister.  Mr.  Christianson  did  a  successful  work 
as  pastor  for  about  two  years,  when  he  left  the  Chapel 
to  become  pastor  of  the  First  Swedish  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Minneapolis.  He  was  succeeded  by  Ezra 
F.  Pabody,  in  praise  of  whom  and  of  his  work,  it  would 
hardly  be  possible  to  say  too  much.  He  was  called  in 
1890,  like  Cincinnatus,  almost  literally  from  his  plow; 
for,  after  a  long  and  active  business  career,  he  had  re- 
tired for  rest  and  recreation  to  a  country  home  on  Lake 


123 

Minnetonka.  He  accepted  the  position  of  lay  mis- 
sionary at  Riverside,  at  the  urgent  solicitation  of  the 
Session,  of  which  he  himself  was  an  honored  member, 
but  with  great  hesitation  on  his  part  lest  he  might  not 
be  equal  to  the  duties  of  the  ofHce.  After  a  few  years 
of  service,  upon  the  advice  of  Session,  he  applied  in 
1900  to  the  Presbytery  for  ordination  as  a  minister  of 
the  Gospel,  so  that  he  might  make  his  ministry  more 
effective ;  and  he  was  ordained  to  that  high  office  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1900. 

Mr.  Pabody's  work  at  Riverside,  both  as  a  layman 
and  as  a  minister,  was  wonderfully  blessed  of  God. 
Able  in  the  pulpit,  tender  and  sympathizing  as  a  pas- 
tor; wise  and  loving  as  a  counselor  and  friend,  he  was 
an  inspiration  and  a  comfort  to  all  to  whom  he  min- 
istered in  the  Chapel  and  to  the  members  of  their 
families;  and  he  made  himself  greatly  beloved  to  those 
with  whom  he  was  associated  in  Chapel  work. 

In  September,  1903,  Mr.  Pabody  laid  down  the  work, 
of  his  own  accord,  in  order  to  enjoy  a  much  needed 
and  merited  rest  at  his  home  on  Lake  Minnetonka. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  S.  Ward,  who  resigned 
on  the  31st  of  March,  1905,  and  accepted  a  call  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Crooks- 
ton,  Minn.  During  his  pastorate  at  Riverside  he  great- 
ly endeared  himself  to  all,  especially  to  the  young  men. 

Rev.  Benjamin  R.  Weld  entered  upon  the  pastorate 
of  Riverside  Chapel  on  April  1,  1905.     He  resigned  in 


124 

January,  1907  for  the  purpose  of  taking  an  extended 
trip  through  Europe,  Egypt  and  the  Holy  Land.  Soon 
after  his  return  from  this  trip,  he  accepted  a  call  to  be- 
come pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Joliet,  Illinois,  where  he  is  now  laboring. 

In  July,  1907,  the  Session  called  Rev.  W.  E.  Paul,  of 
Rollo,  Illinois,  to  the  pastorate  of  Riverside  Chapel. 
The  call  has  been  accepted  and  Mr.  Paul  began  his 
labors  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  August. 

This  honor  roll  would  be  incomplete  without  special 
reference  to  Samuel  H.  Beaven,  who  labored  for  us 
as  a  lay  evangelist  for  so  many  years,  first  at  Farview 
and  then  at  Elim.  Mr,  Beaven  was  faithful  and  suc- 
cessful in  the  work  entrusted  to  him.  He  has  been 
for  many  years,  laid  aside  by  illness  from  all  activity 
in  Christian  work.  His  sublime  faith  and  patience 
under  his  suffering  are  an  inspiration  and  blessing  to 
those  who  know  him. 


CHAPTER  VL 

Zbc  Sabbatb  Scbools  ot  tbe  Cburcb. 

The  work  in  the  Sabbath  Schools  of  Westminster 
Church  has  been,  and  is  now,  as  successful  as  in  any 
other  of  the  lines  of  religious  activity,  in  which  we 
have,  as  a  people,  engaged.  An  account  of  our  Chapel 
schools  is  given  in  another  chapter. 

The  home  school  had,  like  the  Church  itself,  a  feeble 
beginning.  Indeed,  it  was  found  to  be  impossible  to 
organize  a  school  until  many  months  after  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Church,  because  of  the  difficulty  of  find- 
ing a  place  in  which  to  hold  it.  In  1868,  Mr.  Joshua 
Williams,  at  the  request  of  the  officers  of  the  Church 
and  school,  prepared  a  history  of  the  school  down  to 
that  date.    From  that  history  we  quote  the  following: 

"In  April,  1858,  we  transferred  our  meetings  to 
Fletcher's  Hall  on  Helen  Street,  and  soon  after,  viz.: 
on  the  25th  of  the  same  month,  organized  our  school 
with  about  twenty  scholars  and  six  teachers. 

The  teachers  were  L.  H.  Williams  and  wife,  Mrs. 
J.  C.  Williams,  Mrs.  Morgan  (then  Mrs.  Taylor), 
Miss  E.  M.  Williams  and  Mr.  W.  W.  McNair. 

J.  C.  Williams  took  charge  of  the  school  as  Super- 


126 

intendent,  which  trust  he  held  until  1861,  when,  on 
account  of  feeble  health,  he  resigned  and  Rev.  Robert 
Strong  took  his  place.  The  school  fully  sustained 
itself  during  these  years,  increasing  its  number  of 
scholars  to  40  or  45,  and  adding  to  its  corps  of  teachers, 
Miss  Hannah  Mullen,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  D.  Beman,  E. 
M.  Wilson  and  sister,  now  Mrs.  W.  W.  McNair  and 
others,  for  a  short  time.  Mr.  A.  C.  Gowdy  was  chosen 
librarian  during  the  summer.  Our  first  library  was 
procured  in  1858.  We  sent  the  Depository  at  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa.,  an  order  for  books,  enclosing  $20.00,  which 
the  agent,  J.  D.  Williams,  kindly  sent  to  the  Board 
of  Publication,  in  Philadelphia,  with  a  request  for  a 
donation ;  and  we  received  books  to  the  amount  of  $44. 
Before  the  arrival  of  these  books,  we  received,  as  a  do- 
nation, a  cast-off  library  from  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Pittsburgh,  containing  many  excellent 
books,  but  so  coated  with  the  smoke  and  dust  of  that 
saintly  city  that  we  could  not  use  them  until  after  a 
thorough  cleaning;  even  then  they  were  so  dingy  the 
children  could  hardly  be  prevailed  on  to  read  them. 
This  library  was  afterwards  sent  to  the  school  in  Me- 
dina Township,  and  our  country  friends  hardly  knew 
whether  we  designed  to  do  them  a  kindness  or  to  offer 
them  an  insult. 

Our  school,  like  the  Church,  was  retarded  in  its 
growth  and  efficiency  by  the  changes  we  had  to  make, 
from  time  to  time,  in  the  place  of  meeting,  and  hav- 


127 

ing  only  part  of  the  time  of  a  minister,  as  we  had  the 
services  of  Rev.  Levi  Hughes  and  Rev.  J.  A.  McKee, 
in  union  with  the  Church  in  St.  Anthony.  Here  it 
may  be  noted  that  of  our  original  scholars,  thirteen 
have  become  members  in  full  communion  of  this 
Church  and  two  or  three  members  of  other  churches  in 
the  place.  Of  the  teachers,  two  are  gone  to  their  re- 
ward, the  others  are  still  working  here  or  elsewhere. 

Rev.  Robert  Strong  became  stated  supply  in  1861, 
and  continued  to  labor  faithfully  and  efficiently,  both 
in  Church  and  Sabbath  School,  until  the  summer  of 
1864,  when  he  was  compelled,  by  failing  health,  to  cease 
his  labors.  During  this  period  the  Church  and  school 
made  rapid  progress.  Mr.  Strong  was  immediately 
succeeded  by  Rev.  R.  A.  Condit,  and  the  school  placed 
under  the  very  efficient  superintendence  of  Hon.  Chas. 
E.  Vanderburgh,  who  is  still  (1868)  in  that  position. 

We  take  pleasure  in  bearing  testimony  to  the  untir- 
ing zeal  and  industry  of  our  Superintendent,  and  that 
to  him  is  due  the  credit,  in  a  large  measure,  that  our 
school  has  taken  rank  with  the  foremost  in  our  Church 
in  co-operating  in  every  good  work.  When  four  years 
ago  he  took  charge  of  the  school,  its  average  attend- 
ance (teachers  and  scholars)  was  about  sixty-nine, 
and  the  collections  the  first  year  did  not  exceed  $39.84; 
while  for  the  last  year,  1867,  reports  show  an  average 
attendance  of  one  hundred  forty-two  and  collections 
to  the  amount  of  $246.62,  of  which  $166.18  was  for 


128 

benevolent  purposes.  It  has  steadily  increased,  until  it 
now  has  an  average  attendance  of  about  one  hundred 
iifty  scholars  with  an  efficient  corps  of  thirty-four 
teachers.  Its  contributions  to  the  cause  of  Christian 
benevolences  have  made  it  an  example  to  other  schools, 
stimulating  them  to  increased  liberality.  Thus  far, 
our  report  has  been  made  for  the  most  part  from  mem- 
ory without  the  aid  of  written  records.  It  would  have 
been  much  more  satisfactory,  could  we  have  had  a 
written  record  of  the  history  of  our  school  during  the 
time  of  its  infancy  and  childhood.  From  what  is  here 
recorded,  we  see  enough  to  excite  gratitude  to  our 
Master  and  Lord  for  his  blessing  on  our  feeble,  but 
well  meant  efforts,  and  much  to  stimulate  to  increasing 
activity  in  his  blessed  service.  Some  who  started  with 
us,  when  we  had  nothing  but  faith  to  sustain  us,  lean- 
ing on  him  "who  will  not  break  the  bruised  reed,  nor 
quench  the  smoking  flax,"  and  "who  can  make  one  to 
chase  a  thousand  and  two  to  put  ten  thousand  to 
flight,"  are  now  in  glory,  enjoying  the  rest  of  God's 
people.  Some  are  surely  nearing  the  confines  of  the 
unseen  world ;  and,  from  God's  providence  in  the  past, 
we  may  all  learn  that,  while  it  is  true  that  the  old  must 
die,  it  is  equally  true  that  the  young  may  die.  Death 
has  taken  from  among  us  both  teachers  and  scholars, 
and  so  he  continues  to  do.  Where  his  dart  shall  next 
strike,  no  one  can  foresee.  The  Master  says  to  each 
and  all  of  us,  "Work  while  it  is  called  today  for  ye 


129 

"know  not  the  day  nor  the  hour  wherein  the  Son  of 
Man  Cometh.  Blessed  is  that  servant  whom  his  Lord 
when  he  cometh,  shall  find  watching." 

Unfortunately,  the  records  of  the  school,  for  many 
years  after  the  preparation  of  this  report,  have  been 
lost  or  mislaid.  It  is,  therefore,  impossible  to  give  a 
full  and  accurate  account  of  the  growth  and  work 
of  the  school,  since  that  time;  but,  from  the  data  ob- 
tainable, we  can  glean  some  information. 

We  learn  that  for  several  years,  thereafter,  Charles 
E.  Vanderburgh  was  the  faithful  and  efficient  super- 
intendent of  the  school;  while  well  known  names  like 
those  of  T.  B.  Janney,  L.  P.  Plummer,  J.  J.  Ankeny, 
W.  W.  McNair,  Joshua  Williams,  S.  M.  Williams  and 
O.  V.  Tousley  appear  among  the  lists  of  officers. 

T.  B.  Janney  served  for  many  years,  most  faithfully 
and  efficiently  as  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  did  much 
to  contribute  to  the  success  of  the  school.  He  was 
followed  by  his  business  associates,  Horace  M.  Hill 
and  E.  J.  Moles,  successively,  each  of  whom  rendered 
faithful  service  for  several  3^ears. 

One  fact  appears  clearly  in  those  earlier  records,  and 
that  is,  that  the  little  school  was  remarkably  liberal 
in  its  contributions  to  the  various  church  boards  and 
other  benevolent  objects.  For  many  years  the  school 
was  organized  into  a  home  missionary  society  and  a 
foreign  missionary  society.  The  spirit  of  those  early 
officers  and  teachers  is  shown  by  their  action,  taken  at 


130 

a  meeting  held  December  29,  1870.  A  resolution  was 
then  adopted  as  follows: 

"We  as  teachers  and  members  of  the  Sabbath  School 
will  in  the  future  take  a  deeper  interest  in  the  Sabbath 
School,  and  labor  more  earnestly  for  its  success,  in 
the  work  of  bringing  the  young  to  Christ,  and  estab- 
lishing them  in  the  faith  of  the  Gospel.  2nd.  In  co- 
operating with  the  Superintendent.  3rd,  In  bringing 
others  into  the  School  both  from  the  congregation  and 
from  without." 

Two  names  stand  out  prominently  in  the  more  re- 
cent history  of  this  school;  one,  that  of  William  M. 
Tenney,  who  is  now  living  in  Boston.  He  served  as 
its  Superintendent  for  over  seventeen  years,  from  Jan- 
uary, 1882,  until  the  summer  of  1899,  when  he  removed 
from  the  city.  His  deep  spirituality,  his  evident  love 
for  the  school  and  those  attending  it,  his  tact  and  tin- 
failing  courtesy  endeared  him  to  all;  so  that  it  is  not 
strange  that  to  many  he  seemed  to  be  the  ideal  Sab- 
bath School  Superintendent.  During  his  entire  term 
of  service  he  had  as  his  assistants  S.  H.  Findley  and 
Charles  T.  Thompson,  Mr.  Thompson  while  several 
times  declining  to  accept  an  election  as  Superintendent 
for  a  full  term,  was  yet  obliged  to  accept  the  office 
twice  to  fill  unexpired  terms  of  others,  viz.:  that  of 
James  L.  Monroe  in  1881  and  that  of  William  M.  Ten- 
ney in  1899. 

The  other  name  which  should  be  made  prominent 


131 

is  that  of  Mrs.  E.  F.  Pomeroy,  who  was  for  twenty- 
five  years  the  Superintendent  of  the  Primary  Depart- 
ment, and  whose  remarkable  and  loving  work  with  the 
young  children  of  the  Church  has  endeared  her  to 
both  the  children  and  their  parents.  Multitudes,  who 
have  been  touched  and  influenced  by  her  noble  and 
self-sacrificing  life,  rise  up  now  to  call  her  blessed. 
S.  H.  Findley  has  been  one  of  the  most  efficient  of  As- 
sistant Superintendents  for  twenty-five  years. 

The  Superintendents  who  followed  Mr.  Tenney 
have  been  Charles  T.  Thompson  (for  Mr.  Tenne^/s 
unexpired  term),  Franc  B.  Daniels,  L.  K.  Thompson, 
J.  S.  Porteous  and  R.  Burton  Tomlinson.  The  Sab- 
bath School  has  ahvays  had  at  the  head  of  its  affairs, 
men  of  consecretion  and  devotion  to  the  duty  entrusted 
to  them ;  and  it  has  always  been,  and  it  is  now,  blessed 
with  a  corps  of  faithful  and  able  officers  and  teach- 
ers, through  whose  labors  great  good  has  been  done. 

As  an  adjunct  of  the  school,  but  meeting  at  a  dif- 
ferent hour,  this  Church  has  for  many  years  conducted 
a  Chinese  and  Japanese  School.  The  school  was 
founded  in  1883,  by  an  honored  elder,  J.  Hyde  Mon- 
roe, who  acted  as  its  Superintendent  until  his  death, 
in  1887.  In  his  honor  the  Chinese  boys  of  the  city 
have  maintained,  for  many  years,  a  bed  in  the  mission 
hospital  at  Wei  Hein,  China.  A.  G.  Prentiss,  then  an 
elder,  succeeded  Mr.  Monroe;  and  he,  in  turn,  was 
succeeded  by  S.  H.  Findley,  who  served  with  great 
self-denial  and  efficiency  for  many  years  thereafter. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Momen's  Moth  in  Mestminstei'  Cburcb. 

The  history  of  no  church  would  be  even  approxi- 
mately complete,  without  special  reference  to  the  work 
of  its  women.  In  the  historical  sermon  of  Dr.  Sample, 
preached  in  1868,  he  bears  this  tribute  to  them:  "It 
may  be  remarked  that,  for  its  growth  and  prosperity, 
this  Church  is  largely  indebted  to  the  prayers  and  ef- 
forts of  pious  v/omen."  The  same  testimony  can  be 
as  truly  borne  to  the  women,  who  have  labored  in  the 
Church  during  all  of  the  succeeding  years  of  its  life. 

The  women's  societies  of  Westminster  Church  are 
a  distinctive  feature;  they  are  many,  and  are  adapted 
to  every  age.  As  soon  as  a  child  is  born,  its  name  may 
be  entered  upon  the  cradle  roll;  and,  when  three  or 
four  summers  have  passed  over  the  heads  of  the  lit- 
tle ones,  they  may  become  "Pearl  Gatherers,"  bring- 
ing their  pennies  for  the  Master's  use.  Then,  when 
a  little  older  grown,  they  enter  into  more  active  work 
as  "Gleaners,"  gathering  in  rich  harvests,  and,  when 
young  womanhood  crowns  them,  they  may,  by  their 
beautiful  lives  and  earnest  work,  verify  their  right 
to  the  royal  name  they  bear,  "Daughters  of  the  King." 


133 

Upon  graduating  from  this  band  they  find  the  doors  of 
the  "Guild"  and  of  the  other  Women's  Societies  wide 
open  to  receive  them,  where  every  talent  may  be  con- 
secrated to  the  Master's  service. 

In  order  that  this  account  of  women's  societies  might 
be  as  accurate  as  possible,  the  historian  has  called  to 
his  assistance  the  women  themselves,  who  know  of 
this  work  by  personal  experience.  The  entire  credit 
for  these  sketches  belongs  to  the  following  named 
ladies,  who  kindly  undertook  the  labor  of  preparing 
them,  viz.:  Mrs.  Charles  M.  Godley,  "The  Woman's 
Sewing  Society";  Mrs.  L.  P.  Plummer,  "The  Woman's 
Foreign  Missionary  Society";  Mrs.  E.  F.  Pomero}^ 
"The  Woman's  Home  Missionary  Society" ;  Mrs.  Mar- 
tha M.  Cotton,  "The  Westminster  Missionary  Guild" ; 
Mrs.  George  PI.  Miller,  "The  Kindergarten  and  Indus- 
trial Association";  Mrs.  A.  P.  Bunce,  "Westminster's 
Social  Circle."  These  sketches  are  arranged  in  the 
order  of  the  organization  of  the  respective  societies. 
They  are  printed  just  as  originally  written,  except  that 
a  little  editing  was  necessary  to  reduce  them  to  the 
same  narrative  form, 

WOMEN'S  SEWING  SOCIETY. 

The  first  Women's  Society,  ever  organized  in  West- 
minster Church,  was  a  Sewing  Society,  and  its  object 
was  to  aid  the  pastor  and  secure  funds  for  the  furnish- 


134 

ing  of  the  new  church,  when  it  should  be  completed. 
This  was  in  1859,  during  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Levi 
Hughes.  He  called  the  ladies  together  and  told  them 
how  much  he  felt  the  need  of  their  sympathy  and  help. 
He  spoke  with  much  feeling  and  said  he  would  have  to 
give  up  the  work  altogether,  unless  they  would  rally 
to  his  support.  Many  new  families  were  coming  in 
and  he  wished  them  to  aid  him  in  his  pastoral  visiting, 
which,  on  account  of  his  deafness,  was  a  difficult  thing 
for  him  to  do.  Accordingly  the  society  was  organized, 
having  for  its  first  president  Mrs.  Dr.  Linn,  who  still 
survives. 

They  met  once  a  week  at  the  different  homes,  sewing 
all  the  afternoon,  remaining  to  supper,  the  gentlemen 
coming  in  the  evening  and  paying  a  dime.  AAter 
working  over  a  year,  they  had  a  sale  of  useful  and 
fancy  articles,  realizing  about  $100.00  from  the  pro- 
ceeds. This  was  a  straight  sale  with  no  objection- 
able features.  Some  of  the  ladies  rather  desired  to 
have  an  up-to-date  fair  with  grab  bags,  fish  ponds, 
etc.,  but  were  restrained  by  the  fear  that  the  Captain 
(as  Elder  L.  H.  Williams  was  called)  might  not  ap- 
prove of  such  methods. 

Quite  a  delegation  from  the  Andrew  Church  attend- 
ed this  sale,  to  encourage  their  sisters  in  this  their  first 
effort,  and  all  felt  it  was  a  great  success.  When,  a 
few  weeks  afterwards  this  Church  had  a  fair,  the  two 
young  men  of  the  Westminster  congregation,  Eugene 


135 

M.  Wilson  and  W.  W.  McNair,  procured  a  sled  and 
took  all  the  ladies,  who  wished  to  go,  to  the  entertain- 
ment, thereby  returning  the  compliment. 

One  very  zealous  lady  was  discovered  to  have 
brought  along  a  basket  containing  the  "left-overs" 
from  the  first  sale,  thinking  she  might  have  a  chance 
to  dispose  of  them  that  evening.  Some  of  the  ladies 
attempted  to  dissuade  her,  thinking  it  was  hardly  cour- 
teous to  divert  any  St.  Anthony  money,  those  hard 
times,  from  its  proper  treasury,  but  she  insisted  that 
it  was  perfectly  legitimate,  as  it  was  all  for  the  Church. 
On  their  return,  the  party  was  kept  waiting  out  in  the 
cold  for  this  same  lady,  who  was  evidently  making  a 
last  desperate  effort  to  dispose  of  her  pin  cushions. 

By  the  time  the  little  church  was  finished,  there  was 
a  sufficient  amount  in  the  treasury  to  furnish  it.  The 
furnishings  were  extremely  simple,  consisting  of  two 
stoves,  the  lamps,  and  the  modest  strip  of  red  ingrain 
carpet,  which  was  laid  down  the  two  aisles  and  upon 
the  pulpit  platform  only.  If  any  one  desired  his  pew 
carpeted  or  cushioned,  he  did  it  at  his  own  expense. 
Three  chairs,  upholstered  in  red,  adorned  the  pulpit 
platform,  while  just  beneath  was  the  small  table  with 
marble  top,  and  two  cane  seat  chairs.  When  their 
work  was  completed,  the  members  of  the  little  society 
rested  from  their  labors. 

It  was  revived  again  when  the  church  was  enlarged 
and  reorganized  in  1873,  in  the  parlors  of  Mrs.  H.  G. 


136 

Sidle.  When  the  necessity  of  a  new  church  in  the  not 
distant  future  was  apparent,  the  ladies  went  to  work 
with  great  zeal  with  this  lofty  aim  in  view,  to  earn 
enough  money  to  buy  an  organ  for  the  new  church.  Af- 
ter years  of  earnest  work,  their  dream  was  realized 
and  they  had  $3,000.00  to  their  credit  in  the  bank.  In 
the  meantime  the  brethren,  who  had  been  very  active 
in  circulating  a  subscription  paper,  had  come  to  a  dead 
lock  and  felt  that  nothing  would  relieve  the  situation, 
unless  the  ladies  would  offer  their  much  cherished  or- 
gan fund  as  a  subscription  to  the  new  church. 

This  was  a  hard  proposition,  but  at  last  they  all 
agreed  with  the  lady  who  said  "We  can't  use  an  organ 
without  a  church  to  put  it  in,"  and  cheerfully  made  the 
subscription.  Then  they  bravely  went  to  work  again 
to  accumulate  another  fund,  this  time  to  be  used  for 
the  furnishing  of  the  new  church.  Young  and  old 
went  to  work  in  the  most  energetic  manner.  They 
sewed,  published  cook  books,  gave  strawberry  festi- 
vals and  fairs  without  ceasing.  Their  most  important 
venture  was  to  run  a  dining  hall  at  the  Fair  Grounds 
for  one  week.  This  proved  a  mammoth  undertaking, 
a  building  had  to  be  put  up  and  the  necessary  furnish- 
ings procured.  Arrangements  were  made  with  a  baker 
to  roast  500  pounds  of  meat  daily.  Imagine  the  dis- 
may of  the  ladies  when,  on  the  Monday  morning  on 
which  the  fair  opened,  the  butcher  drove  up  and  un- 
loaded 500  pounds  of  raw  meat,  saying  the  baker  could 


Second  Church  Edifice, 
Nicollet  Avenue,  Corner  of  Seventh  Street.     Burned  September  6th,   1895 


137 

not  roast  it,  as  one  of  his  own  ovens  was  out  of  order. 
Consternation  reigned  within  the  camp ;  but  there  was 
no  time  for  lamentations.  The  lady  in  charge  quickly 
jumped  into  her  buggy,  the  meat  was  piled  in  around 
her  and,  completely  imbedded  in  roasts  of  beef  and  veal, 
with  legs  of  mutton  waiving  in  the  air  above  her  head, 
she  started  off  on  her  urgent  mission.  Many  West- 
minster homes  were  visited  and  the  ladies  appealed  to, 
and  in  some  instances  commanded,  in  this  dire  ex- 
tremity, to  help  cook  that  meat.  The  next  morning, 
bright  and  early  after  a  sleepless  night,  the  lady  col- 
lected the  meat  and  took  it  down  to  the  Fair  Grounds. 
This  proceeding  had  to  be  repeated  each  day  of  the 
week,  though  many  visitors  to  the  Fair  kindly  took 
roasts  home  with  them,  thereby  relieving  the  situa- 
tion. When  Saturday  night  came,  a  very  tired  but 
happy  band  of  ladies  counted  up  their  net  receipts  and 
found  they  amounted  to  $1,300.00. 

W^hen  the  Seventh  Street  Church  was  completed,  the 
ladies  fund  had  again  assumed  goodly  proportions  and 
was  amply  sufficient  to  furnish  the  church.  The  pul- 
pit was  furnished  by  the  young  ladies.  Miss  Callie 
Mackay  giving  the  beautiful  communion  table. 

For  some  time,  after  their  mission  was  fulfilled,  the 
Ladies'  Aid  Society  kept  up  their  organization,  but 
as  there  were  now  so  many  other  societies  in  the 
Church,  it  was  thought  best  to  discontinue  it,  but  the 
wonderful  record  they  made  will  never  be  forgotten. 


138 

WOMEN'S   FOREIGN   MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 

The  Women's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  West- 
minster Church  was  organized  February  6,  1871,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  of  the  kind  in  the  state.  The  sug- 
gestion for  such  an  organization  came  in  a  letter,  writ- 
ten by  Dr.  Irving  (Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  at  New  York),  asking  Dr.  Sample  to  present 
the  subject  to  the  women  of  his  congregation  and  urge 
their  co-operation. 

At  the  close  of  a  Thursday  evening  prayer  meeting 
he  asked  all  the  women  present,  who  were  interested 
in  missions,  to  remain.  The  letter  was  read  and  it 
was  then  decided  to  organize  such  a  society.  This  was 
done  the  following  day  in  Dr.  Sample's  parlor,  he  pre- 
siding. 

Mrs.  I.  C.  Faries  was  chosen  our  first  president ;  and, 
though  only  continuing  as  such  for  about  three  years, 
she  was  a  most  active  member  until  her  death  in  De- 
cember, 1892.  That  she  loved  the  cause  is  evidenced 
by  her  giving  her  eldest  son,  Dr.  William  Faries,  to 
the  work  of  Foreign  Missions,  and  her  only  other  son 
to  the  work  at  home. 

The  monthly  meetings  were  held  at  the  home  of  the 
President.  The  Women's  Board  of  the  Northwest 
was  at  this  time  only  two  months  old,  and  we  were  at 
once  in  sympathy  and  in  correspondence  with  it,  send- 
ing our   money   through    this   channel.      Miss   C.    B. 


139 

Downing,  of  Cheefoo,  China,  was  our  first  beneficiary, 
the  Society  pledging,  for  this  first  year  of  its  existence, 
$75.00  towards  her  support. 

To  give  coveted  zeal  and  strength  to  our  new  un- 
dertaking, it  was  suggested  that  the  women  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  should  be  invited  to  join 
us,  calling  it  a  Union  Society.  The  invitation  was  ac- 
cepted, and  this  arrangement  continued  during  the 
years  of  1872  and  1873.  They  withdrew  in  February, 
1874,  and  were  greatly  missed,  especially  Mrs.  B.  B. 
Bennett,  founder  of  Bennett  Seminary,  who  would 
bring  to  the  meetings,  and  read,  letters  received  from 
Henrietta  and  Sarah  Morrison  of  India. 

That  the  growth  of  the  Society  was  slow,  is  evidenced 
by  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Union  Society  in  1873, 
which  was  held  in  a  small  parlor  with  an  attendance 
of  only  six,  besides  Dr.  Sample,  who  opened  the  meet- 
ing. He  was  ever  ready  to  aid  and  counsel  us,  some- 
times presiding  in  the  absence  of  the  President. 

Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Rhea  of  Persia,  who  was  attending 
the  meeting  of  the  American  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions, held  in  this  city,  September,  1873,  called  the 
Presbyterian  women  together  and,  by  a  stirring  ad- 
dress, aroused  fresh  interest  and  enthusiasm  in  the 
work. 

Though  weak  in  numbers,  we  were  strong  in  faith, 
and  decided  to  increase  our  offerings  to  assist  in  the 
education  of  Frank  Myango,  a  native  convert  in  Af- 


140 

rica,  who  was  a  pupil  of  Miss  Bella  Nassau.  She  en- 
closed, in  a  letter  from  herself,  a  letter  written  by  him 
in  English  to  us,  which  impressed  us  as  quite  wonder- 
ful for  a  boy  with  his  limited  advantages.  He  was 
then  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Corisco,  as 
a  candidate  for  the  gospel  ministry.  We  began  to  help 
him  in  1874;  and  have  continued  to  do  so  up  to  the 
present  time;  and  hope  to  as  long  as  he  is  spared. 

In  this  same  year,  the  membership  was  increased, 
and  we  raised  over  $100.00,  which  amount  was  swol- 
len by  gifts  from  Bands,  which  had  been  organized 
among  our  young  people,  to  $174.00. 

Our  second  President,  Mrs.  B.  C.  Ramsey,  was  most 
zealous  and  enthusiastic  in  the  cause.  In  September, 
1877,  Miss  Downing  of  China,  whom  we  had  been  as- 
sisting, visited  us,  and  the  next  month  Miss  Vanduzee 
of  Erzroom,  Turkey.  These  visits  meant  much  in  in- 
creasing and  keeping  alive  our  interest.  In  those  days, 
the  missionaries  and  their  fields  seemed  much  further 
away  than  now,  when  swift  steamers  are  plying  the 
waters  and  cables  connect  almost  every  part  of  the 
globe. 

The  records  say,  that  1878  marked  a  new  era  in 
our  history.  We  then  had  the  honor  of  sending  Miss 
Katherine  Hale,  as  Mrs.  Dr.  Cochran,  to  Persia.  She 
was  well  known  to  us,  though  a  member  of  another 
denomination  before  her  marriage.  We  proposed,  as  a 
society,  to  assume  her  support,  but  she  declined  as 


141 

her  health  was  not  robust  and  she  was  not  certain  of 
being  able  to  do  missionary  work. 

In  1880,  Rev.  Graham  C.  Campbell  was  set  apart 
for  service  in  Africa.  Some  of  us  remember  the  im- 
pressive service  on  that  occasion,  in  the  old  home 
church  on  Fourth  Street.  Our  Society  gladly  assisted 
in  preparing  the  outfit  for  his  bride.  Mrs.  Campbell, 
a  few  years  later,  translated  into  the  Mponge  dialect, 
"Here  a  Little  and  There  a  Little,"  this  Society  furnish- 
ing the  funds  therefor,  of  which  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Oliver 
gave  $100.00.  She,  a  member  of  Westminster  Church, 
and  closely  identified  with  all  its  interests,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  our  Society  from  the  time  it  was  organized  till 
her  death,  in  October,  1892.  She  denied  herself,  that 
she  might  bring  large  gifts  to  the  treasury,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1887,  giving  $375.00  and  the  next  month, 
$150.00.  Those  who  remember  her  simple  life,  know 
what  those  gifts  meant  of  self  sacrifice.  The  remem- 
brance of  her  prayers  and  service  were,  above  all,  a 
most  precious  legacy  to  the  members  of  this  Society. 

The  early  members  of  the  Society  do  not  need  to  be 
reminded  of  our  Vice  President,  Mrs.  Bessie  O.  Gil- 
fillan,  who  was  a  most  active  member,  regular  in  her 
attendance  at  the  meetings  and  presiding  in  the  ab- 
sence of  the  President,  contributing  articles  and  giv- 
ing consecrated  gifts  to  the  same  cause,  which  was  dear 
to  her  heart. 

Mrs,  Charlotte  O.  Van  Cleve  was  a  frequent  visitor 


142 

at  the  Society's  meetings,  exerting  a  moulding  influ- 
ence upon  our  Society,  as  upon  many  others  through- 
out the  State. 

When,  in  1881,  Miss  Archibald,  from  our  midst,  of- 
fered herself  to  the  cause  of  foreign  missions,  our  en- 
thusiasm reached  its  greatest  height.  We  felt  it  such 
an  honor  and  privilege  to  have  one  of  our  very  own 
go  to  help  fill  depleted  ranks.  Her  life,  though  short, 
was  not  given  in  vain,  and  Mateer  Hospital,  where  Dr. 
Faries  labored,  is  the  loving  memorial  suggested  by 
loyal  hearts. 

The  Chinese  class,  which  was  organized  by  Mr. 
J.  Hyde  Monroe  about  1883,  raised  money  to  build  an 
addition  to  it,  which  they  called  Monroe  Pavillion, 
and  have  continued  for  these  many  years  to  support 
a  bed  in  it. 

Mateer  Hospital  was  made  possible  by  the  generous 
bequest  of  Mrs.  M.  M.  Harris,  of  whom  it  may  be  said 
"being  dead  she  yet  speaketh,"  as  a  yearly  legacy  tes- 
tifies to  her  interest.  She  was  wise  in  counsel,  active 
in  service  and  her  prayers  and  example  will  long  be 
remembered. 

Mrs.  J.  R.  Hall,  wife  of  an  honored  elder  of  this 
Church,  was  our  President  for  about  three  years,  fill- 
ing that  office  until  her  death,  in  1887.  Of  a  retir- 
ing disposition,  few  who  did  not  know  of  her  brilliant 
work  as  a  pupil,  and  then  a  teacher,  would  suspect  the 
rare  ability  that  lay  beneath  her  quiet  manner,  though 


143 

all  associated  with  her  were  impressed  by  her  con- 
secration to  the  cause  of  the  Master. 

Miss  Eliza  W.  Baker  is  another,  to  whom  much  is 
due.  Mrs.  William  M.  Tenney  was,  for  many  years, 
a  most  useful  worker,  acting  as  President  when  her 
strength  was  hardly  equal  to  the  task. 

We  have  been  unusually  blessed  in  having  visits 
from  returned  missionaries.  In  September,  1890,  we 
had  three  present  at  the  meeting,  Dr.  Faries,  Mr. 
Nevius  and  Mr.  Campbell,  and,  in  spite  of  bad  weather, 
there  were  eighty  present  to  listen  to  their  stirring- 
words. 

In  April,  1890,  Mr.  Lingle,  at  an  evening  prayer  meet- 
ing, made  himself  known  to  us  and  told  of  his  intention 
to  go  as  a  missionary  to  China;  his  wife  afterwards 
united  with  the  Church,  so  that  she  might  be  known 
as  one  of  us. 

The  third  President  was  Mrs.  A.  C.  Morgan,  who 
has  so  recently  gone  from  our  midst,  that  we  can 
hardly  yet  realize  she  will  never  again  be  with  us.  She 
towers,  above  all  other  of  our  workers,  in  her  many 
years  of  service  and  loyalty  to  her  Master.  Not  only 
does  Westminster  love  and  honor  her  memor}'',  but 
many  others  outside  of  her  membership.  She  was  her 
pastor's  trusted  friend  and  advisor,  and  worked  in  all 
departments  of  the  Church,  her  activity  extending  to 
the  Benevolent  Societies  of  the  city.  All,  who  came 
in  contact  with  her,  were  impressed  by  her  saintly  life. 


144 

We  do  not  forget  Miss  E.  E.  Kenyon  and  her  faithful 
labors,  and  a  host  of  others. 

Mrs.  E.  S.  Williams  has  been  a  leader,  since  she 
came  to  us  from  Chicago,  in  1884. 

1887  was  our  banner  year,  when  we  raised  $3,635.28. 
To  our  co-workers.  The  King's  Daughters,  The  Glean- 
ers, The  Pearl  Gatherers,  we  are  indebted  for  help  in 
sending  our  funds,  and  in  later  years  the  Christian  En- 
deavor Society  has  aided  us. 

Since  the  date  of  our  organization  to  August  of 
1907,  the  Society  has  raised  $39,468.00.  Behind  these 
figures  looms  our  dear  Mrs.  E.  E.  Whitmore,  for  so 
many  years  our  faithful  treasurer.  Who  can  estimate 
the  prayers  and  efforts  that  are  included  in  so  large 
an  offering,  especially  during  years  of  financial  de- 
pression when  our  large  pledge  seemed  almost  im- 
possible of  attainment. 

Mrs.  B.  W.  Smith  has  been  a  most  worthy  succes- 
sor to  Mrs.  Whitmore  for  about  ten  years. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  missionaries,  whom  it 
has  been  the  privilege  of  the  Society  to  assist,  since  its 
organization  in  1871: 

Miss  Downing,  China 1871 

Frank  Myongo,  Africa 1874 

Mrs.  W.  D.  Holt,  China 1874 

Mrs.  Ward,  China  1874 

Mrs.  Graham  Campbell,  Africa 1880 

Miss   Wilma    Jacobs 1884 


145 

Mrs.  Robert  Mateer  (nee  Archibald) 

China  1886 

Miss  Fanny  Ward,  Mexico 1886 

Miss  Mabel  Elliott,  Mexico 1886 

Mrs.    Madge    Dickson     (afterwards 

Mrs.  Mateer)   China   1889 

Mrs.  Irene  Lingle,  China 1889 

Miss  Cooper,  Siam 1890 

Miss  Medbury,  Persia   1891 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wm.  Wallace,  Mexico  1894 

Miss  Edna  Bissell,  Siam 1899 

Mrs.  Rebecca  Van  Cleve  Nicol,  Syria.1905 
It  seems  only  a  short  time  since  we  prepared  Miss 
Bissell's  outfit  for  her  far-away  field,  where  eight  years 
of  continuous  service  so  undermined  her  health  that,  on 
her  return,  her  strength  failed  in  California  and  she 
died  there  a  year  later. 

Our  youngest  missionary,  Mrs.  Rebecca  VanCleve 
Nicol,  who,  with  her  husband,  is  stationed  in  Tripoli, 
Syria,  is  well  known.  The  enthusiasm  of  her  going 
out  is  kept  aglow  by  the  frequent  letters,  which  come 
to  us.  As  a  Society,  we  have  been  greatly  favored 
in  having  visits  from  many  returned  missionaries,  a 
son  of  one  of  whom  is  in  a  home  in  our  midst. 

For  the  personal  presence  and  instructive  words  of 
these  consecrated  workers,  we  are  especially  thank- 
ful. Futurity  alone  will  reveal  the  full  results  of  their 
stirring  appeals  in  our  Church  and  family  circles.  On 


146 

the  many,  who  have  aided  in  accomplishing  what  has 
been  done,  has  been  conferred  a  great  privilege,  namely 
that  of  extending  Christ's  kingdom  and  hastening  the 
glad  day  when  "every  knee  shall  bow  and  every 
tongue  confess  Him  Lord  of  all." 

The  historian  takes  the  liberty  of  adding,  that  the 
writer  of  the  foregoing  sketch  has  forgotten  to  men- 
tion herself.  Mrs.  L.  P.  Plummer  has  been,  during  the 
entire  life  of  this  society,  one  of  its  most  interested 
and  efficient  members. 

WESTMINSTER   WOMAN'S    HOME    MISSION- 
ARY SOCIETY. 

When  the  General  Assembly  decided  upon  commit- 
ting the  school  work  among  the  exceptional  popula- 
tions of  our  land  to  the  Home  Board,  Mrs.  F.  E.  H. 
Haines,  of  New  York,  was  urged  to  undertake  the  or- 
ganization of  Missionary  Societies  in  connection  with 
the  Synods,  and  General  Assembly.  Mrs.  Haines  vis- 
ited Minneapolis  in  1880,  and  again  in  1881,  urging 
Westminster  ladies  to  organize  for  this  work. 

A  committee  was  appointed  by  the  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary  Society,  consisting  of  Mrs.  M.  M.  Harris  and 
Mrs.  A.  C.  Morgan,  to  choose  officers  and  formulate 
plans  for  this  work.  The  Committee  reported :  for  Pres- 
ident, Mrs.  E.  F.  Pomeroy ;  First  Vice  President,  Miss 
E.  E.  Kenyon;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  W.  F. 


147 

Rodgers ;  Recording  Secretar}-,  Mrs.  L.  H.  Terry ; 
Treasurer,  Mrs.  T.  B.  Janney. 

The  Foreign  Society  bade  their  younger  sister  God- 
speed, and  we  have  always  been  as  one  in  Christ's 
work. 

It  was  a  glad  hour  when  we  gathered  in  our  new 
parlors  at  the  Seventh  Street  Church  for  our  first 
anniversary,  and  with  all  our  hearts,  with  joy,  we 
thanked  our  Father  for  the  hallowed  memories  of  the 
dear  Fourth  Street  Church. 

In  the  early  history  of  our  Society,  we  were  greatly 
favored  by  visits  of  missionaries  on  the  field.  Mr. 
Sheldon  Jackson,  from  Alaska;  Rev.  and  Mrs.  S.  Hall 
Young;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eugene  A.  Willard,  and  Mrs.  R. 
A.  McFarland,  the  first  woman  honored  by  the  Board 
with  a  commission  as  missionary,  have  visited  us.  Our 
Society  became  greatly  interested  in  this  far  away  field, 
and,  when  a  precious  legacy  was  given  to  us  after  the 
death  of  Mrs.  M.  M.  Harris,  it  was  desired  that  this 
gift  should  be  given  to  the  Hospital  at  Sitka,  a  work 
in  which  she  was  greatly  interested.  This  hospital, 
with  its  medical  missionary  and  nurses,  has  not  only 
proved  a  great  boon  to  the  sick  in  body  but  has  also 
been  a  blessing  to  many  sin-sick  souls. 

Our  Society,  each  year,  continues  its  glad  offerings 
to  carry  on  this  important  work  at  Sitka.  This  So- 
ciety gives  $100.00  for  the  hospital  at  Porto  Rico.  We 
support  six  scholarships  and  a  part  of  the  salary  of 


148 

Miss  Prudence  Clark  at  Chimayo,  New  Mexico.  Our 
contributions  in  all  these  years  have  exceeded  $26,000. 

Our  memory  lingers  around  the  names  of  many,  who 
have  passed  on  to  higher  service.  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Oliver, 
before  her  death,  gave  us  large  gifts  for  the  various 
fields,  in  which  she  was  interested.  Through  her  gen- 
erosity, one  year  our  offerings  exceeded  $3,500.  We 
gladly  cherish  her  memory. 

We  have  been  honored  in  having  the  Woman's 
Home  Board  as  our  guests  in  1886  and  in  1899. 

In  1886  the  Woman's  Board  met  in  Plymouth 
Church,  and  in  1899  we  gathered  in  Wesley  M.  E. 
Church.  The  meeting  in  1886  was  the  last  that  our 
beloved  Mrs.  Haines  attended.  In  a  few  months  she 
was  translated,  her  benediction  resting  upon  us.  At 
this  meeting,  plans  were  discussed  and  partly  per- 
fected for  our  valued  Home  Mission  Monthly. 

There  are  names  on  the  honor  roll  of  our  Westmin- 
ster Church,  that  we  gladly  mention,  who  have  been 
our  substitutes  on  the  field.  Mrs.  H.  L.  Burnett,  wid- 
ow of  a  Presbyterian  minster  of  our  state,  spent  nine 
years  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  Utah.  Afterwards,  at  South 
Dakota,  she  found  it  to  be  her  joy  to  work  for  the 
Indians.  Her  consecrated  life  left  an  impress  upon 
many  hearts. 

Dr.  N.  S.  Shulean,  a  medical  missionary,  went  to  the 
hospital  at  Sitka,  Alaska.  From  this  great  work,  she 
was  called  home  by  the  illness  of  her  aged  father. 


149 

Mrs.  M.  F,  Schucknecht,  for  nine  years  at  Sitka, 
after  taking  a  brief  well  earned  rest,  has  just  returned 
to  the  work  of  her  choice. 

Miss  M.  E.  Logan,  for  many  years  a  useful  worker 
here  in  Westminster,  is  now  at  Sitka. 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Graham  Campbell,  after  service  in 
Africa,  returned  on  account  of  health,  to  take  up  the 
work  in  Africa  of  the  South  Land.  One  of  our  best 
schools  for  colored  girls,  at  Barkerville,  Va.,  is  under 
their  care. 

In  addition  to  the  names  of  our  missionaries  from 
this  Church,  we  cannot  omit  mention  of  some  of  those, 
who  have  been  prayerful  helpers  in  the  past.  From 
the  rejoicings  of  the  meetings  of  the  Women's  Home 
Board,  in  1886,  we  came  to  days  of  anxiety  and  sad- 
ness. As  we  gathered  for  the  missionary  hour  of  June, 
we  received  a  message  from  the  sick  bed  of  our  be- 
loved Mrs.  M.  M.  Harris.  It  read:  "Although  I  am 
not  able  to  be  with  you  this  afternoon,  I  send  my  of- 
fering with  love  and  best  wishes  for  a  profitable  meet- 
ing. 'Rejoice  in  the  Lord,  and  again  I  say  unto  you, 
rejoice.' 

Very  lovingly,  your  friend, 

MRS.  M.  M.  HARRIS." 

Very  soon  after,  she  found  joy  in  the  presence  of  her 
Lord.  A  yearly  gift  still  links  her  name  to  our  Society, 
and  most  tenderly  her  memory  abides  in  our  hearts. 


150 

A  yearly  offering  comes  also  from  loving  daughters 
in  the  name  of  Mrs.  Isaac  Skiles. 

Mrs.  E.  B.  Wilson  was  a  "Mother  in  Isreal"  to  us, 
and  we  have  a  scholarship  at  the  Farm  School  in  Ash- 
ville,  N.  C,  sacred  to  her  memory. 

Mrs.  A.  C.  Morgan,  who  fell  "asleep  in  Jesus"  at  the 
close  of  a  beautiful  Sabbath,  was  faithful  to  the  last 
with  her  prayers  for  this  work. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Donaldson  are  gladly  men- 
tioned as  our  friends  in  any  special  need,  by  many 
'kindnesses  and  timely  gifts. 

Miss  E.  E.  Kenyon  and  Mrs.  S.  P.  Farrington  were 
wise  in  counsel,  and  friends  on  whom  we  leaned. 

We  greatly  miss  Mrs.  Wm.  M.  Tenney,  who  never 
failed  to  cheer  us  on  by  her  loving  words  and  help- 
ful aid. 

Our  first  efficient  Treasurer,  Mrs.  T.  B.  Janney, 
after  seven  years  of  service  resigned  on  account  of  ill 
health. 

Mrs.  Chas.  M.  Godley  took  her  place,  and,  for  fifteen 
years,  the  faithfulness  with  which  she  watched  over  the 
treasury  has  been  known  to  all. 

But  it  would  be  impossible  to  name  all,  whom  we 
would  gladly  mention.     • 

The  story  of  all  these  years  is  a  pleasant  one.  The 
half  cannot  be  told.  But  at  this  Jubilee,  against  our 
serial,  we  write,  "to  be  continued"  till  America  is  won 
for  Christ. 


151 

It  is  a  joy  to  express  our  thanks  to  the  beloved  pas- 
tors and  brethren  of  the  Session,  who  have  always 
aided  us  by  their  prayers  and  counsels. 

WESTMINSTER  MISSIONARY  GUILD. 

The  organization  was  christened  in  infancy,  "The 
Youngs  Ladies'  Missionary  Society,"  the  name  being 
changed  later  to  the  "Young  Women's  Missionary  So- 
ciety," and  in  March,  1907,  it  was  found  best  to  dis- 
band the  early  organization,  unite  with  the  "West- 
minster Reading  Circle,"  in  forming  a  new  Society, 
and  adopt  a  new  constitution  and  the  name,  "West- 
minster Missionary  Guild," 

The  first  meeting  was  held  at  the  home  of  Mrs. 
L.  H.  Terry,  818  Nicollet  Avenue,  on  a  bright  Oc- 
tober afternoon  in  1882.  Mrs.  William  M.  Tenney  and 
Miss  Eliza  W.  Baker,  representing  the  Women's  For- 
eign Society  and  Mrs.  E.  F.  Pomeroy,  Mrs.  T.  B. 
Janney  and  Mrs.  Philip  Godley  of  the  Home  Society 
were  the  organizers.  There  were  twenty  young  wom- 
en present,  at  this  beginnig,  and  in  November  the  mem- 
bership had  grown  to  more  than  fifty. 

The  very  hour  of  the  organization,  preparations 
were  made  for  a  box  to  be  sent  to  the  Wasatch  Acad- 
emy, Mount  Pleasant,  Utah,  which  contained,  when 
finished,  twenty  pairs  of  sheets,  twenty  pairs  of  pillow 
cases,   towels   in   dozens,   napkins,   table   cloths,   etc., 


152 

and  which  was  valued  at  $100.00.  A  scholarship  of 
$100.00  in  the  same  Academy  was  assumed  the  first 
year,  and  has  been  carried  continuously  until  now. 

Mrs.  L.  H.  Terry,  now  living  in  Santa  Barbara,  Cal- 
ifornia, was  elected  its  first  President,  and  continued 
in  office  for  several  years ;  her  fine  spirit  of  devoted  en- 
thusiasm and  her  cheerful  acceptance  of  work  were  an 
inspiration  to  the  Society,  and  left  an  imprint  on  its 
character  for  the  future.  At  one  time,  when  present- 
ing a  call  for  help,  she  said:  "Ladies,  we  have  never 
refused  any  call  for  help  that  has  come  to  us ;  need  we 
begin  now  ?  If  we  undertake  the  work,  I  think  the  way 
will  be  opened  for  its  accomplishment." 

The  object  of  the  organization  has  always  been  "by 
study,  prayer,  and  contributions,  to  aid  the  cause 
of  missions  of  the  Women's  Boards  of  Home  and  For- 
eign Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church."  The  funds 
are  divided  equally  between  the  two  Boards.  They  are 
raised  by  voluntary  offerings,  and  paid  quarterly. 

The  regular  meetings  are  held  on  the  second  Wed- 
nesday of  every  month  at  the  church,  and  the  Indus- 
trial meetings,  for  work  on  the  boxes,  occur  at  the 
homes  of  different  members  on  the  fourth  Wednesday. 
The  latter  feature  has  always  proved  a  strong  at- 
traction, and  has  added  much  to  the  Society  in  a  so- 
cial way.  During  the  early  years  we  occasionally  re- 
mained for  "tea,"  when  the  Associate  members,  our 
husbands   and   brothers,   joined   us   for   an   evening's 


'-^'tttt**^''' . 


•T  •    -r r- 


Pulpit  and  Organ  Loft  of  Second  Church  Edifice, 
Corner  of  Nicollet  Avenue  and  Seventh  Street 


153 

entertainment;  but  more  recently  an  annual  reception 
is  held  for  them. 

Some  of  the  first  work  done  at  the  sewing  meetings 
was  the  furnishing  of  the  "Terry  room"  at  the  Was- 
atch Academy,  from  the  dainty  window  curtains  to 
the  cherry  rag-carpet  for  the  floor. 

Some  of  the  objects  to  which  the  Society  has  con- 
tributed through  the  Home  Board  are,  besides  the 
scholarships  at  Mt,  Pleasant,  another  at  Good  Will, 
South  Dakota,  the  salaries  of  Mrs.  Granger,  Miss  Don- 
nelly, Miss  McGraw  and  Miss  Clark,  the  Freedmen's 
General  Fund,  and  many  valuable  boxes  of  clothing, 
books,  dolls,  baby  layettes,  etc.,  to  both  Home  and 
Foreign  fields. 

Through  the  Foreign  Board,  we  have  contributed 
to  the  salary  of  Miss  Edna  Bissell,  supported  a  schol- 
arship at  Satillo,  Mexico  (originally  at  Monterey),  one 
at  Urumiah,  Persia,  and  have  sent  funds  to  the  Sarah 
Mateer  Memorial  Hospital  at  Wei  Hein,  China. 

It  has  been  the  privilege  of  the  Society  to  see  one 
of  its  members  go  out  to  active  service  for  the  Mas- 
ter, Mrs.  M.  F.  Schucknecht,  who  teaches  in  the  Girls' 
Industrial  School  at  Sitka,  Alaska,  and  Miss  Edna  L. 
Bissell,  who  taught  in  Bankok,  Siam,  until  shortly 
before  her  call  to  Heavenly  service. 

To  quote  the  words  of  its  first  President:  "The 
record  of  the  Society  is  one  to  be  proud  of.     It  has 


154 

not  only  been  one  of  helping  others,  but  of  being 
helped." 

The  pledges  have  always  been  met,  and  more. 
There  has  always  been  a  feeling  of  good  comradeship 
among  its  members,  something  akin  to  that  in  a  col- 
lege sorority.  Deeper  and  more  systematic  study 
of  the  various  fields  has  led  to  greater  spirituality  and 
a  desire  for  larger  things. 

At  the  opening  of  the  year  last  spring,  it  was  decided 
to  unite  with  other  young  people's  organizations  of 
the  Church  in  supporting  two  missionaries,  one  at 
home  and  one  abroad,  besides  continuing  the  scholar- 
ships at  Saltillo,  Mexico  and  Mt.  Pleasant,  Utah.  New 
Prague,  Minnesota,  will  be  the  home  of  the  missionary 
already  assigned. 

KINDERGARTEN  AND  INDUSTRIAL  SOCIETY 

The  Kindergarten  and  Industrial  Association  was 
organized  April  28th,  1884,  as  "Westminster  Aid  So- 
ciety." The  object  was  to  furnish  missions,  belonging 
to  the  denomination,  and  to  furnish  suitable  clothing 
to  destitute  children  attending  the  Sabbath  Schools. 

Riverside  Mission  had  just  erected  a  chapel,  and  the 
Society  undertook  the  furnishing  of  it.  The  cost  of 
this  and  of  a  library  amounted  to  $432.56,  which  was 
raised  by  a  special  committee,  and  the  Chapel  was  thus 
made  ready  for  work.     The  funds,  to  carry  on  this 


155 

work,  were  to  be  raised  by  $1.00  membership  fees  and 
a  monthly  pledge  of  five  cents. 

This  work  was  organized  by  women,  whose  names 
the  Church  loves  to  honor  for  their  consecrated  and 
devoted  lives,  and  was  undertaken  in  the  spirit  of  pray- 
er and  reliance  on  God's  help  and  guidance.  Among 
the  names  of  those  who  were  first  interested  in  this 
work  and  have  ceased  from  their  labors  are  Mrs.  M. 
M.  Harris,  Mrs.  I.  C.  Faries,  Mrs.  A.  C.  Morgan,  Mrs. 
A.  M.  Henderson,  Miss  E.  E.  Kenyon;  and  those 
earlier  members,  who  are  still  active  are  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Clerihew,  Mrs.  W.  P.  Northway,  Mrs.  H.  S.  Weir,  Mrs. 
Wm.  F.  Rodgers  and  Mrs.  Geo.  H.  Miller.  Mrs.  Wm. 
M.  Tenney,  another  of  those  earlier  workers  is  now 
living  in  Boston. 

The  first  industrial  work  was  to  take  the  sewing 
school,  that  had  been  carried  on  by  Miss  Clarke  for  two 
years,  meeting  in  private  houses  in  Riverside  District. 
The  chapel  being  ready,  a  sewing  school  was  organ- 
ized by  the  officers  of  the  Aid  Society,  a  visitor  was 
employed  to  find  the  needs  of  the  destitute,  and  cloth- 
ing was  provided  from  the  generous  donations  sent 
in  by  the  women  of  the  Church,  and  much  suffering 
was  relieved. 

Much  time  and  thought  were  given  by  the  officers 
of  the  Industrial  School  to  finding  the  best  methods 
of  conducting  the  work.  They  adopted  the  plan  of 
having  the  children  pay  a  nominal  sum  for  the  gar- 


156 

ments  made,  and  found  the  moral  effect  of  this  much 
better  than  of  giving  them. 

The  work  developed  rapidly  along  different  lines. 
A  boy's  brigade  was  successfully  carried  on  by  Miss 
Eva  Mclntyre. 

There  was  a  kitchen  garden  for  the  little  ones,  cook- 
ing classes  for  the  older  girls,  a  director  in  the  "Fresh 
Air  Fund,"  a  day  nursery,  a  free  dispensary. 

There  was  never  a  call  made  on  the  Society,  that 
promised  to  be  helpful  to  the  districts,  but  was  gladly 
taken  up.  As  the  work  grew,  the  financial  demands 
grew,  and  the  Society  was  greatly  pressed  for  means 
and  many  of  the  monthly  meetings  were  turned  into 
prayer  meetings  seeking  God's  guidance  and  help. 

In  October,  1887,  Mrs.  Mary  Plum  offered  her  ser- 
vices for  a  kindergarten  at  Hope  Chapel.  A  special 
donation  of  $100.00  was  given,  and  the  kindergarten 
was  opened,  which  was  the  beginning  of  a  much  larger 
and  more  definite  work  that  has,  from  the  first,  appeal- 
ed to  the  hearts  and  homes  of  these  people. 

The  Society,  realizing  the  benefits  of  this  beautiful 
work,  opened  a  kindergarten  at  Riverside,  February, 
1888,  with  Miss  McCray  superintendent  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  year. 

Mrs.  Susan  Morse,  the  present  Superintendent  was 
elected  after  that. 

In  November,  1888,  an  industrial  school  was  or- 
ganized at  Hope  Chapel  with  Mrs.  E.  F.  Pomeroy  as 


157 

Superintendent.  Most  satisfactory  work  was  carried 
on  by  a  large  number  of  devoted  workers,  and  many 
were  helped  not  only  materially  but  spiritually,  as  that 
side  of  the  work  has  ever  been  made  prominent. 

Mrs.  E.  F.  Pabody  was  Superintendent  of  Riverside 
Industrial  School  from  1891,  with  a  large  and  faithful 
corps  of  teachers,  and  a  very  successful  and  helpful 
work  was  conducted.  Much  time  was  given  to  the 
moral  and  spiritual  well-being  of  the  children,  and 
many  lessons  of  love  were  taken  away  with  them  to 
bear  fruit  in  their  homes. 

Mrs.  S.  M.  Davis  conducted  an  industrial  school  at 
Farview  with  sixty  children,  with  much  love  and  de- 
votion. 

At  this  time  there  was  much  suffering  in  these  dis- 
tricts, as  many  of  the  men  of  the  families  were  without 
work.  Many  cases  of  destitution  were  relieved  by  the 
Kindergarten  and  Industrial  workers,  who  acted  as 
home  missionaries.  Often  were  the  workers  brought 
to  face  an  empty  treasury,  when  the  needs  were  the 
greatest,  and  special  meetings  were  held  to  provide 
ways  to  meet  the  exigencies. 

At  the  close  of  the  December  meeting,  1892,  the 
President,  Mrs.  O.  J.  Evans,  read  a  letter  from  the 
Session  of  the  Church,  which  gave  little  promise  of 
funds  from  that  source.  The  needs  were  great,  as 
the  obligations  for  the  year  had  been  assumed.  After 
much  discussion,  in  the  spirit  of  meekness  and  love, 


158 

the  meeting  was  turned  into  a  prayer  meeting,  seek- 
ing God's  guidance.  It  was  arranged,  that  the  follow- 
ing day  be  spent  in  fasting  and  prayer  and  that  a 
special  meeting  be  held  on  Friday.  A  number  of  ear- 
nest women  were  in  attendance  at  this  meeting,  plead- 
ing prayers  were  offered  for  light,  wisdom  and  guid- 
ance. 

Mrs.  S.  P.  Farrington  said  that,  during  the  wakeful 
hours  of  the  night,  some  thoughts  had  come  to  her 
very  pleasantly  as  if  in  a  dream,  something  like  this. 
Call  a  mass  meeting  of  the  women  of  Westminster 
Church.  The  new  pastor,  Dr.  Hunter,  would  like  to 
meet  them  all  and  have  the  Presidents  of  each  Society 
make  a  sketch  of  the  aims  and  work  for  her  Society, 
and  thus  he  would  be  informed  of  the  work  being  done 
in  the  Church  by  the  Mission  Societies;  the  pressing 
needs  of  the  City  Mission  work  should  be  emphati- 
cally brought  forth  in  a  manner,  such  as  to  awaken 
special  interest  among  the  women  and  move  them  to 
make  pledges  for  the  year  for  carrying  on  the  work. 
This  plan  aroused  much  enthusiasm  and  the  meeting 
was  arranged.  Dr.  Hunter  was  greatly  interested  in 
helping,  and  the  meeting  proved  a  success  beyond  ex- 
pectations. 

As  the  result  of  this  meeting,  on  the  Sabbath  before 
Thanksgiving  the  Society  had  a  special  sermon  on  the 
work  and  pledges  for  the  support  of  the  work  were  se- 
cured.    The  congregation  became  so  interested,  that, 


159 

ever  since  then  in  each  year,  the  same  Sabbath  has 
been  set  aside  as  Women's  City  Missionary  Sunday; 
and  the  pledges  secured  have  been  ample  for  carrying 
on  the  work,  and  the  Society  has  been  led  to  rejoice 
and  give  thanks  over  the  Treasurer's  reports  ever 
since. 

The  tenth  annual  report  gives  many  encouraging 
facts  regarding  the  work.  At  the  meeting,  at  which 
this  report  was  presented,  a  letter  was  read  from 
Mr.  A.  J.  Condit,  who  was  the  first  Superintendent  of 
Riverside  Sabbath  School,  telling  of  the  very  sad  con- 
dition on  the  flats,  when  he  began  the  work  there.  Rev. 
E.  F.  Pabody,  the  pastor,  said  he  could  hardly  realize 
that  the  dark  picture  could  have  been  true,  for  now 
one  could  go  there  in  perfect  safety,  day  or  night,  and 
he  had  as  warm  friends  there  as  anywhere,  and  he  gave 
a  gratifying  picture  of  the  condition  of  the  work  and 
attributed  it  all  to  the  principles  and  work  of  Christ. 
Mrs.  S.  P.  Farrington  was  re-elected  President  at  this 
meeting,  having  previously  served  two  years.  The 
following  eight  years  were  full  of  joy  and  gladness,  the 
Society  being  able  to  prosecute  the  work  with  no  anx- 
iety for  finances,  for  the  many  noble  men  and  women 
had  so  generously  donated  the  money  as  soon  as  they 
understood  the  needs. 

During  the  twenty-three  years  the  Society  has 
had  but  three  treasurers,  the  present  one,  Mrs.  Emily 
J.  Moles  having  served  eighteen  years,  and  much  is- 


160 

due  her  for  the  faithfulness  in  collecting  the  pledges. 

Too  much  cannot  be  said  for  the  work  of  the  Kin- 
dergartners,  Mrs.  Susan  Morse,  whose  work  has  con- 
tinued nineteen  years,  and  Mrs.  Harriet  Shryock, 
whose  services  have  extended  over  thirteen  years. 
Thousands  of  children  have  come  under  their  influence 
during  these  years.  Here  they  have  had  their  first  les- 
son in  truth  and  love,  and  the  influence  has  extended 
into  their  homes.  Many  of  the  foreigners  have  their 
first  lessons  in  patriotism  through  their  children,  who 
are  taught  the  love  of  our  flag  and  what  it  stands  for. 
Twelve  nationalities  have  been  in  the  schools  at  one 
time. 

The  mothers'  meetings  are  a  very  satisfactory  phase 
of  the  work.  Many  practical  talks  have  been  given 
them  on  home  life  and  care  of  the  children ;  and  the  re- 
sults have  been  marked. 

The  social  side  of  the  work  has  not  been  left  out,  for 
they  have  been  entertained  with  lectures,  stereopticon 
views  and  special  meetings,  to  which  the  fathers  were 
invited.  The  Kindergartners  visit  the  homes,  and  great 
help  is  given  in  that  way.  Many  sick  and  in  distress  are 
helped,  homes  are  found  for  little  ones,  work  found  for 
parents  and  counsel  given  to  erring  ones.  This  shows 
how  far  reaching  is  the  work  of  this  Society,  behind  all 
of  which  is  the  consecration  of  the  workers  doing  all 
in  the  spirit  of  Christ.  A  message  came  to  the  Society 
from  a  dying  mother :  "Tell  Westminster  women,  that 


161 

I  ask  God  to  bless  them  for  all  the  Kindergarten  has 
done  for  my  children." 

A  day  nursery  for  working  mothers  was  conducted 
for  a  time,  and  at  the  time  was  of  great  help.  There 
is  a  relief  committee  to  provide  clothing  and  help  for 
the  sick,  and  through  them  the  many  garments  given 
by  the  Church  have  been  cared  for  and  given  to  the 
needy.  Many  garments  have  been  received  from  the 
Women's  Guild,  which  has  greatly  helped  in  giving 
relief. 

The  happy  Christmas  parties  of  the  Kindergartens 
have  become  one  of  the  delights  of  the  work,  and  bring 
joy  to  many  little  ones  and  to  their  mothers.  From  the 
beginning  of  the  industrial  work,  the  problem  has  been, 
what  to  do  with  the  many  boys  that  needed  work  and 
guidance.  A  number  of  things  have  been  tried;  they 
all  want  manual  training  and  classes  have  been  car- 
ried on,  as  well  as  could  be  done  with  the  equipments. 
Riverside  is  v/ell  equipped  with  tools,  the  gift  of  one 
of  the  contributors  to  this  work,  and  the  past  year, 
the  first  satisfactory  work  was  begun.  The  needs  of 
Hope  are  the  same,  the  tools  being  a  necessity  for  the 
boys,  and  many  boys  being  anxious  for  the  work.  Riv- 
erside and  Hope  Chapel  buildings  are  well  equipped 
for  this  work,  as  the  most  modern  plans  have  been  car- 
ried out  and  in  both  are  large  sunny  rooms  for  all  the 
work. 

The  sewing  schools  are  conducted  under  the  latest 


162 

improved  methods,  with  paid  supervisors.  They  do 
model  work,  leading  up  to  garment  making,  so  that  a 
girl,  who  has  completed  the  models,  has  received  in- 
struction in  all  the  various  methods  of  sewing.  A 
large  corps  of  faithful  devoted  workers  give  their  time 
to  these  schools,  every  Saturday  morning  from  Novem- 
ber 1st  to  April  1st,  their  only  reward  being  the  pleas- 
ure of  seeing  the  advancement  made  in  their  various 
classes. 

The  great  improvements  in  these  two  centers  are 
very  marked,  and  some  of  the  present  workers  in  them 
were  themselves  started  in  the  Kindergartens.  The 
present  success  is  due  to  the  faithful  workers,  who 
first  saw  the  needs  of  the  work,  and  to  the  many  others 
who  have,  through  all  the  years,  gladly  given  time 
and  strength,  and  whose  reward  it  is  to  see  the  work 
progress  and  know  that  much  is  being  done  for  the 
furtherance  of  the  coming  of  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

During  nearly  the  entire  history  of  this  Society 
Mrs.  E.  J.  Moles  has  been  the  efficient  treasurer.  Since 
its  organization  the  Society  has  raised  for  its  work  the 
sum  of  $29,602.12. 

WESTMINSTER  SOCIAL  CIRCLE. 

The  Social  Circle  is  the  youngest  of  Westminster's 
Women's  Societies.  It  was  organized  November  12, 
1895,  at  the  home  of  Rev.  Pleasant  Hunter,  D.  D.,  in 


163 

response  to  a  notice  on  the  Sunday  calendar  and  a 
few  approving  words  from  the  pastor.  It  was  first 
called  Westminster  Sewing  Society,  but,  at  the  end 
of  a  month,  the  present  name  was  substituted.  At 
the  first  meeting  Mrs.  Pleasant  Hunter  was  elected 
Honorary  President  and  Mrs.  Charles  T.  Thompson 
President. 

The  sewing  was  done  for  the  Mission  Industrial 
Schools,  for  the  Church  Societies,  as  well  as  charitable 
work  for  private  individuals;  but  the  social  affairs  of 
the  Church  life  fell  naturally  under  its  leadership,  and 
were  the  dominant  note,  for  some  years. 

To  provide  funds  for  the  treasury,  a  mite  box  was 
passed  at  each  meeting,  until  1901,  when  yearly  dues 
of  twenty-five  cents  were  substituted. 

The  Circle  has  never  had  either  constitution  or  by- 
laws. This  had  led  to  independence  of  action,  but, 
possibly  to  less  responsibility.  For  seven  years  the 
meetings  were  held  somewhat  irregularly,  and  it  was 
not,  until  the  issue  of  the  calendar  of  women's  work 
in  1904,  that  the  Social  Circle  was  placed  upon  an 
equal  footing  with  the  older  Societies,  with  a  definite 
plan  of  work  for  the  year. 

As  now  arranged,  there  are  fifteen  regular  meetings, 
seven  of  which  last  all  day  and  are  devoted  to  sewing 
for  charitable  objects.  These  all-day  sessions  are 
held  in  the  Church  sewing  rooms,  which  are  admirably 


164 

fitted  up  with  three  sewing  machines  and  all  neces- 
sary appliances. 

A  mid-day  lunch,  to  which  all  contribute,  is  served 
in  the  spacious  kitchen.  The  average  attendance  is 
about  sixty.  Among  the  charities  regularly  aided 
are:  The  Associated  Charities,  Humane  Society,  Beth- 
any Home,  Pillsbury  Home  for  Working  Girls,  Mater- 
nity Hospital,  Florence  Crittendon  Home,  Home  for 
Aged  Women,  Jones-Harrison  Home,  Travelers'  Aid, 
Children's  Home.  A  competent  committee  of  seven 
cut  out,  plan  and  superintend  the  work,  and  nothing 
unworthy  is  sent  out. 

The  social  features  have  varied  from  year  to  year. 
For  three  years  there  have  been  thimble  bees,  two  eve- 
ning receptions  to  which  the  men  are  invited,  the  fall 
rally  and  annual  meeting,  nine  in  all,  the  majority  being 
held  at  private  homes.  Besides  these  regular  affairs, 
there  are  occasional  picnics,  and  the  Circle  sometimes 
takes  charge  of  general  socials  or  receptions  for  the 
entire  Church.  Attendance  at  its  own  social  affairs 
varies  from  sixty  to  several  hundred.  The  Society 
has  on  its  membership  list  about  two  hundred  fifty 
names. 

From  the  first,  it  has  had  a  dual  aim,  to  promote 
sociability  and  personal  acquaintance  among  the  peo- 
ple of  Westminster  congregation,  and  to  aid  worthy 
charities  by  personal  work. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
l^ouna  {people's  Societies  in  tbe  Cbutcb. 

The  Young  People  of  Westminster  Church  have,  for 
many  years,  been  very  zealous  in  religious  work,  espe- 
cially in  the  line  of  missionary  activity.  The  credit  for 
the  following  sketches  is  due  to  Rev.  Harry  G.  Finney, 
our  efficient  assistant  pastor,  and  to  a  number  of 
our  good  women,  who  have  aided  actively  in  form- 
ing and  carrying  on  these  Societies.  These  sketches 
are  presented  substantially  as  originally  written,  and, 
as  nearly  as  possible,  in  the  order  of  the  organiza« 
tion  of  the  different  Societies  and  Bands.  In  the  lat- 
ter respect  some  mistakes  may  have  been  made,  as 
there  is  some  uncertainty  as  to  some  of  the  dates. 

Organized  work  among  the  young  people  began 
with  the  "Westminster  Mission  Workers,"  a  Society 
founded  by  Mrs.  B.  C.  Ramsey,  on  October  10,  1873. 
Another  Band,  called  the  "Cheerful  Givers"  was  found- 
ed the  same  year  by  Mrs.  T.  B.  Janney.  On  May  30th, 
1874,  "The  Zenana  Workers"  and  the  "Seek  and  Save 
Band"  were  organized,  the  former  being  a  class  of 
Mrs.  L.  P.  Plummer  and  the  latter  a  class  of  Miss 
Eliza  W.  Baker.    These  four  Societies  and  Bands  ex- 


166 

isted  for  five  years  and  raised  $376.57;  they  then  gave 
place  to  other  organizations.  After  other  temporary 
efforts,  the  work  finally  chrystalized  into  its  present 
form  with  a  half  dozen  or  more  organizations,  with 
various  modes  of  religious  service  expression,  all  of 
which  have  for  their  general  object,  first:  To  promote 
an  earnest  Christian  life;  second:  To  advance  the  mu- 
tual acquaintance  of  the  young  people  generally  of  the 
Church ;  and  third,  to  secure  a  sympathetic,  intelligent 
and  prayerful  interest  in  the  Church's  work  at  home 
and  abroad. 

The  latest  work  undertaken  by  them  was  the  sup- 
port of  a  pastor  in  each  of  the  Home  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sion fields.  The  organizations  supporting  this  new 
work  are  :  The  Westminster  Missionary  Guild ;  Senior 
and  Intermediate  Christian  Endeavor  Societies; 
Daughters  of  the  King;  Gleaners,  Junior  Chapter  and 
Class  No.  1  in  the  Sabbath  School. 

The  Young  People  of  today  are  the  future  of  the 
Church.  Yesterday  is  history,  tomorrow  lives  in  to- 
day. That  the  future  of  Westminster  Church  is  safe, 
the  following  brief  history  of  each  of  its  Young  Peo- 
ple's Societies  attests. 

THE  DAUGHTERS  OF  THE  KING. 

The  Daughters  of  the  King  is  one  of  the  many  Mis- 
sionarv  Societies  of  Westminster  Church.     This  So- 


167 

ciety  was  organized  in  1882,  under  the  leadership  of 
Miss  Eliza  W.  Baker.  It  is  composed  of  high  school 
girls  with,  at  present,  forty  active  members.  Monthly 
meetings  are  held  on  Friday  afternoons  at  4  o'clock. 
The  objects  of  this  Society  are  to  instil  into  the  young 
minds  and  hearts  the  true  Missionary  Spirit,  to  main- 
tain a  high  standard  of  giving,  not  only  of  money  but 
of  time,  labor  and  prayer,  for  the  advancement  of 
God's  Kingdom.  Much  practical  work  is  being  done 
through  this  Society. 

PEARL  GATHERERS. 

In  May,  1882,  Gaylord  Steele,  a  bright,  happy  boy  in 
the  primary  class  of  our  Sabbath  School,  was  taken 
home  to  be  with  Jesus.  Not  long  after  his  death,  Gay- 
lord's  mother,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Steele,  brought  a  sacred  offer- 
ing from  his  little  bank,  to  be  given  that  some  boy 
might  learn  to  love  Jesus,  as  Gaylord  had  loved  Him. 

The  primary  class  was  at  once  organized  into  a 
Missionary  Band,  called  the  Pearl  Gatherers,  and  the 
children  brought  their  pennies,  to  be  added  to  the 
precious  gift. 

A  scholarship  was  taken  among  the  Papago  In- 
dians, to  be  called  the  "Gaylord  Steele  Scholarship." 
To  a  little  Indian  boy  was  given  the  name  we  had 
loved,  and  for  years  he  was  loved,  and  prayed  for,  by 
the  children  of  the  class. 


168 

He  is  a  grand  man  now,  but  still  bears  the  name, 
and  we  hear  of  him  through  missionaries  to  that  tribe, 
in  Tuscon,  Arizona. 

The  first  year's  report  by  the  Treasurer,  Bessie  Gil- 
more,  showed  our  offerings  to  be  $67,  of  which  $50.00 
was  for  the  Gaylord  Steele  scholarship,  and  $17.00  for 
Persia. 

Jn  1886,  David  Tenney  was  Treasurer  of  the  class. 
The  children  of  the  primary  class  of  those  days,  have 
grown  to  be  men  and  women,  but  the  "Pearl  Gather- 
ers" still  remain  an  organization.  The  mothers  of  the 
older  and  younger  children  too  make  up  any  deficit 
there  may  be  in  the  childrens'  gifts.  And  the  money 
for  our  scholarship  is  sent  annually. 

"THE  GLEANERS." 

"The  Gleaners"  have  learned  the  secret  of  perpetual 
youth,  for  though  oldest  of  the  exclusively  young  peo- 
ple's Societies,  they  are  still,  after  twenty-four  years 
of  existence,  from  ten  to  fourteen  years  old,  sweet,  win- 
some, loving  little  girls,  fascinating  with  the  uncon- 
scious enthusiasm  and  charity  of  early  youth. 

Founded  in  January,  1883,  under  the  patronage  of 
the  Women's  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  they  as- 
sumed early,  if  not  at  once,  a  pledge  of  twenty-five 
dollars  for  a  scholarship  in  Allahabad,  India,  which 
they  have  never  failed  to  meet  or  to  exceed.    Establish- 


David  James  Burrell,   D.D., 
Pastor    1887-1891 


169 

ed  to  meet  as  a  Foreign  Mission  Band,  they  soon  be- 
gan to  give  the  surplus  above  their  pledge  to  Home 
Missions  and,  in  1898,  doubled  their  pledge  in  order 
to  divide  it  equally  between  the  two  Boards.  Since 
then  the)'-  have  never  failed  to  go  considerably  beyond 
their  pledge  of  $50.00,  and  have  paid  into  the  mission- 
ary treasuries,  during  their  entire  existence,  something 
over  one  thousand  dollars. 

The  value  of  this,  as  of  all  Bands,  is  not  measured 
by  the  money  they  have  raised,  except  as  this  money 
is  a  measure  of  their  spirit  of  self-denial  and  love. 

The  broadening  of  their  sympathies  through  knowl- 
edge, training  in  service  and  systematic  giving,  and, 
above  all  else,  the  spirit  of  love  and  sacrifice  for  their 
Master  and  His  little  ones,  are  the  only  real  test  of  the 
value  of  their  work  among  the  children. 

THE  SENIOR  CHRISTIAN  ENDEAVOR 
SOCIETY. 

The  pastorate  of  Dr.  Burrell  marked  the  beginning 
of  Christian  Endeavor  history  in  Westminster  Church, 
the  Society  being  organized  in  January,  1888.  Ever 
cherishing  the  motto:  "For  Christ  and  the  Church," 
the  Endeavorers  have  made  an  honorable  record  in 
gifts  to  Foreign  and  Home  Missions  and  in  labor  in 
the  City  Mission  fields  at  Riverside  and  at  Hope.  The 
Westminster  Endeavorers  were  among  the  first  in  the 


170 

city  to  organize  classes  for  systematic  study  of  Mis- 
sions. Throughout  its  history  the  Society  has  been 
blessed  by  the  cordial  support  of  the  pastors,  and  the 
active  aid  of  the  assistant-pastors. 

THE   INTERMEDIATE  CHRISTIAN   ENDEAV- 
OR SOCIETY. 

In  the  year  1895,  certain  of  the  good  Christian  moth- 
ers of  Westminster  Church,  decided  that  a  training 
in  religious  expression  was  needed  for  the  children 
of  the  congregation.  In  response  to  their  desires, 
the  Junior  Christian  Endeavor  Society  of  Westminster 
Church  was  organized.  After  five  years  of  active  work, 
the  Society  was  changed  to  an  Intermediate  Christian 
Endeavor.  The  Society  was  formed  of  the  younger 
members  of  the  Church  and  also  any  young  person  de- 
siring to  lead  a  Christian  life.  The  meetings  were  held 
on  Friday  afternoons,  to  accommodate  the  school  chil- 
dren, but  later  the  attendance  increased  and  the  meet- 
ings were  changed  to  Sunday  afternoon  at  4  o'clock. 
Meetings  were  held  at  first  in  what  is  now  the  Inter- 
mediate Department  rooms,  but  the  membership  has  so 
increased  that  it  is  now  necessary  to  hold  the  meet- 
ings in  the  main  Sunday  School  room.  The  member- 
ship is  now  of  Senior  age  and  is  composed  of  Univer- 
sity and  High  School  students  to  the  number  of  forty, 
who  carry  on  an  aggressive  work. 


171 
THE  JUNIOR  CHAPTER. 

The  Junior  Chapter  was  organized  May  5,  1907,  with 
Miss  Callie  M.  Cecil,  Superintendent.  The  member- 
ship is  composed  of  young  people  under  16.  The  pur- 
pose of  the  Society  is  to  provide  for  its  members  an  ef- 
fective training  of  the  heart,  tongue  and  hand  for  re- 
ligious and  church  work. 

The  Fujiyami  Club  for  boys  was  organized  by  Mr. 
S.  C.  Woodhull  in  1906  for  the  study  of  Missions,  and 
has  had  a  very  successful  career. 

The  Westminster  Fellowship,  organized  in  1906,  by 
Mr.  C.  W.  Van  Tuyl,  as  an  extension  of  his  Sunday 
School  Class,  is  both  a  Bible  Class  and  a  Social  Club 
for  young  men. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

^be  6olt)en  3ubtlee, 

Introductory. 

After  the  preceding  chapters,  giving  the  history  of 
the  Church,  had  been  prepared  and  largely  printed, 
the  committee  decided,  that  it  would  be  wiser  to  delay 
issuing  it,  until  there  could  be  prepared  and  printed 
with  it  a  history  of  the  Jubilee  exercises.  The  his- 
torian was  requested  to  prepare  the  chapters,  contain- 
ing such  additional  matter,  including  the  addresses 
which  might  be  made  at  the  various  meetings.  As 
these  addresses  were  largely  historical,  and  unavoid- 
ably covered  many  of  the  events  already  described,  in 
part  at  least,  in  the  history  already  printed,  there  will 
necessarily  be  found  some  repetition  in  this  volume. 
Nevertheless  it  seemed  wiser  to  publish  the  addresses 
at  the  Jubilee  exercises,  as  they  were  delivered,  even 
at  the  expense  of  such  repetition,  rather  than  to  change 
and  abridge  any  of  them,  at  the  risk  of  impairing  their 
continuity  and  beauty. 

The  annual  congregational  meeting,  in  April,  1905, 
had  appointed  Mr.  J.  B.  Gilfillan,  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee to  arrange  for  this  celebration.     The  selection 


173 

of  the  other  members  of  the  committee  was  delegated 
to  him.  He  appointed  as  such  members,  Rev.  John 
Edward  Bushnell,  Elbert  L.  Carpenter,  J.  R.  Gordon, 
T.  B.  Janney,  George  H.  Miller,  Curtis  H.  Pettit,  J.  S. 
Porteous  and  Charles  T.  Thompson.  At  an  early- 
meeting  of  the  committee,  it  organized  by  electing  Mr. 
Pettit  as  Vice-Chairman;  Mr.  Porteous  as  Recording 
Secretary  and  Treasurer;  and  Mr.  Thompson  as  Cor- 
responding Secretary  and  Historian.  Subsequently  the 
following  sub-committees  were  appointed :  on  finances, 
Messrs.  Janney,  Carpenter  and  Gordon;  on  program, 
Messrs.  Bushnell,  Gilfillan,  Janney,  Pettit  and  Thomp- 
son; on  music,  Mr.  Carpenter;  on  decorations  and  re- 
freshments, the  members  of  the  Finance  Committee. 

Though  several  meetings  of  the  Committee  were 
held  earlier,  yet  little  of  the  work  of  preparation  was 
accomplished  until  early  in  the  year  1907.  At  the  first 
meeting  then  held,  it  was  voted  to  invite  all  of  the  for- 
mer pastors,  still  living,  and  their  wives  to  attend  the 
celebration  as  the  guests  and  at  the  expense  of  the 
Church.  This  invitation  was  given  through  the  Cor- 
responding Secretary.  It  was  accepted  by  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Burrell  and  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hunter.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Strong,  living  in  Pasadena,  California  and  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Condit,  living  at  the  same  place,  held  the  invita- 
tion open  for  several  months,  hoping  they  might  be 
able  to  accept  it.  They  were  finally  compelled  by 
their  physical  condition  to  decline  it. 


174 

The  Committee,  after  carefully  considering  the  mat- 
ter, decided  to  have  on  the  first  evening,  (Thursday) 
a  more  informal  meeting,  to  which,  after  considerable 
discussion,  the  program  committee  gave  the  name, 
"Fellowship  Meeting."  This  was  to  be  followed  by  a 
reception  on  Friday  evening.  Saturday  afternoon  was 
given  to  the  ladies,  for  the  celebration  of  the  work  of 
their  societies ;  while  the  week  was  to  be  closed  by  the 
celebration  of  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper, 
with  the  reception  of  new  members,  on  Saturda)''  even- 
ing. 

Sabbath  was  to  be  the  great  day  of  the  feast. 

To  Dr.  Burrell,  as  the  Senior  pastor,  was  given  the 
privilege  of  preaching  at  the  morning  service;  and  to 
Dr.  Hunter  of  preaching  at  the  evening  service ;  while 
to  our  own  beloved  pastor,  Dr.  Bushnell,  was  given  the 
honor  of  closing  the  whole  by  an  address,  at  the  con- 
clusion of  the  evening  service,  summing  up  the  les- 
sons of  the  Jubilee  and  sounding  a  forward  note  for 
the  future. 

In  addition  to  these,  special  services  in  the  Sab- 
bath School  and  at  Hope  and  Riverside  Chapels  were 
provided  for,  the  details  of  the  programs  being  left 
to  the  respective  Superintendents  in  each  of  those 
Schools. 

The  plans,  thus  laid,  were  carried  out  in  every  de- 
tail. Each  service  was  perfect;  and  it  seemed  as 
though  Providence  had  set  the  seal  of  His  approval  to 


175 

it  all.  Even  nature  seemed  to  join  to  make  the  whole 
a  success,  for  the  weather  was  perfect  and  the  bright 
sunlight  and  the  beautiful  tints  of  the  autumn  foliage 
gave  a  golden  tinge  to  everything,  which  was  in  per- 
fect keeping  with  our  golden  jubilee.  Now  and  then, 
as  the  exercises  progressed,  a  note  of  sadness  was 
struck,  as  some  loved  one  was  remembered,  who  had 
done  so  much  in  life  to  make  the  past  history  of  West- 
minster Church  beautiful  and  glorious,  and  who  had 
gone  from  our  midst;  but  the  predominating  note  was 
one  of  joy  and  gratitude  to  God.  Though  we  might 
miss  our  loved  ones  gone,  we  could  only  rejoice  in  the 
thought  of  what  they  had  accomplished,  and  in  the 
victory  which  they  had  won. 

An  interesting  circumstance,  connected  with  the  Ju- 
bilee, occurred  on  Sabbath.  Dr.  Burrell  and  the  Clerk 
of  Session  found  on  the  table  in  the  pastor's  study  a 
program  of  the  Golden  Jubilee  of  Westminster  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  Detroit,  which  was  occurring  at 
the  same  time  as  ours.  They  thought  it  would  be  a 
good  plan  to  send  greetings  to  the  Detroit  brethren. 
The  matter  was  mentioned  to  Dr.  Bushnell  and  met  his 
approval,  whereupon  the  Clerk  sent  the  following  tele- 
gram: 

"Westminster  Church,  Minneapolis,  celebrating  its 
Golden  Jubilee,  sends  greetings  to  Westminster 
Church,  Detroit,  in  her  rejoicing.  II  Corinthians  13 :14." 


176 

Before  the  close  of  the  day,  the  following  answer 
was  received  and  was  read  at  the  evening  service: 

"Congratulations  to  the  Westminster  Church,  Min- 
neapolis, from  the  Westminster  Church,  Detroit.  Read 
Ephesians  five,  twenty-seven." 

For  all  of  the  Jubilee  services,  one  program  had 
been  prepared  and  provided,  which  was  a  marvel  of 
beauty.  It  reflected  great  credit  on  the  taste  of  the 
pastor  and  assistant  pastor,  who  had  superintended  its 
printing  and  selected  the  paper,  type  and  ink,  and  on 
the  skill  of  Messrs.  Byron  &  Willard,  who  had  printed 
it. 

"THE  FELLOWSHIP  MEETING." 
October  3rd. 

The  exercises  were  opened  at  8  P.  M.  with  an  organ 
voluntary  by  Mr.  H.  S.  Woodruff,  followed  by  the 
singing  of  the  Long  Metre  Doxology  by  the  congre- 
gation. 

INVOCATION. 
Rev.  Charles  Thayer,  D.  D. 

O  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow,  we  worship 
Thee,  we  rejoice  in  Thee,  we  give  praise  to  Thee  for 
what  Thou  hast  done  for  the  children  of  men.  We  re- 
joice, on  this  occasion,  for  the  manifold  mercies  we 


177 

"have  received  at  Thy  hands  in  the  years  that  have  pas- 
sed, and  may  Thy  spirit  dwell  in  our  hearts  and  work 
in  us,  that  we  may  appreciate  and  benefit  by  the  bless- 
ings, which  Thou  hast  bestowed  upon  us.  We  pray 
Thee,  give  us  Thy  blessing  upon  this  the  anniversary 
of  Thy  Church.  As  we  look  back  over  the  years  that 
have  passed  away,  we  realize  that  all  the  way  Thou 
hast  led  us,  Thou  has  been  with  us  though  all  exigen- 
cies of  life,  and  Thou  hast  led  us  safely  through  all  the 
difficulties  and  trials,  that  have  beset  us,  and  hast  per- 
mitted us  to  meet  here  this  day  in  Thy  service.  We 
thank  Thee  for  these  men  and  women,  who  have  been 
instrumental  in  the  upbuilding  of  this  Church,  and  we 
pray  Thee  that  this  service,  which  we  are  to  hold  here, 
may  serve  as  a  step  to  a  new  consecration  to  Thee. 
May  it  be  a  season  of  soul  uplifting,  a  season  that  may 
lift  us  up  in  a  new  consecration  to  Thee,  for  all  that  we 
have  and  all  that  we  are  we  owe  to  Thee.  We  pray 
Thee  grant  Thy  special  blessing  upon  this  meeting, 
and  may  Thy  Holy  Spirit  be  poured  out  upon  us  in  a 
large  measure  in  the  days  to  come.  We  ask  it  in 
Jesus'  name.     Amen. 

PRESENTATION. 

Mr.  John  B.  Gilfillan,  Chairman  of  Jubilee  Commit- 
tee, then  presented  the  report  of  the  committee  and  in- 
troduced the  pastor  as  presiding  officer  of  the  meeting 
in  the  following  words : 


178 

"At  the  annual  meeting  of  this  Church,  and  congre- 
gation, in  the  month  of  April,  1905,  a  resolution  was 
adopted,  reciting  in  its  preamble  the  approach  of  the 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  Westminster  Church  and  pro- 
viding for  a  committee,  to  make  suitable  arrangements, 
for  its  observance.  This  committee  met  and  organized, 
appointing  the  necessary  sub-committees  and  secre- 
taries. Meetings  were  held  from  time  to  time,  as  deem- 
ed necessary,  and  plans  discussed  and  considered.  The 
results  of  these  deliberations  appear  upon  the  program,, 
which  is  placed  in  your  hands.  A  list  of  the  commit- 
tees and  officers  of  the  Church  also  appears  upon  the 
program. 

In  order  to  have  with  us  former  pastors  and  to  secure 
a  full  attendance  of  the  membership  of  the  Church,  the 
time  of  this  anniversary  was  carried  forward  from 
August,  the  date  of  the  organization,  until  October. 
It  is  not  deemed  necessary  nor  best  to  give  now  a  de- 
tailed account  of  the  deliberations  of  the  committee. 
The  results  appear  in  the  program.  It  may  be  proper, 
however,  to  make  reference  to  one  matter.  After  full 
consideration  your  committee  thought  it  best  to  ap- 
point a  sub-committee  to  compile  a  history  of  the 
Church,  to  be  printed  for  the  permanent  use  of  its 
members.  Mr.  C,  T.  Thompson,  a  long-time  elder  of 
the  Church  and  clerk  of  the  session,  was  chosen  for 
this  work.  The  history  has  been  prepared  with  great 
care  and  skill,  has  been  examined  and  approved  by  the 


179 

committee  and  printed.  It  will  be  published  in  a  bound 
volume,  like  the  one  I  hold  in  my  hand,  with  an  epitome 
of  proceedings  of  the  various  meetings  of  this  anniver- 
sary. The  history  will  be  disposed  of  at  a  moderate 
price.  This  volume,  I  am  sure,  will  prove  an  interest- 
ing and  valuable  addition  to  the  library  of  every  one 
interested  in  Westminster.  Mr.  Ankeny,  Treasurer  of 
the  Church,  has  charge  of  the  receiving  of  orders  for 
this  book.  The  absence  from  the  program,  of  an  his- 
torian of  the  Church  will  be  understood  through  this 
explanation  of  the  work  of  Mr.  Thompson  for  the  com- 
mittee, it  being  deemed  more  satisfactory  to  provide  a 
complete  history  in  permanent  form,  and  in  greater  de- 
tail than  could  be  given  in  an  address.  That  this  and 
all  the  work  they  have  undertaken,  may  meet  your  ap- 
proval, is  the  devout  wish  of  your  committee. 

And  now  we  are  here  to  inaugurate  this  anniversary. 
It  is  believed  that,  in  reviewing  its  past  history  and 
present  condition,  Westminster  Church  will  find  many, 
very  many,  causes  for  gratitude  and  rejoicing.  The 
details  of  these  events,  coming  through  all  the  years, 
have  been  assigned  to  others  who  will  follow  me.  My 
remarks  must  be  purely  introductory. 

Fifty  years  is  a  long  span,  in  the  life  of  a  church  as 
well  as  of  an  individual,  and  yet  we  rejoice  that  we 
have  still  with  us  one  of  the  original  founders  of  the 
Church  of  fifty  years  ago,  Mrs.  Deborah  M.  Pettit,  and 
also  her  good  husband,  Mr.  Curtis  H.  Pettit,  who  has 


180 

been,  through  all  these  years,  a  valued  and  honored 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  during  most  of 
the  time,  and  now,  its  chairman. 

Various  changes  have  occurred  in  the  pastorates  of 
this  Church,  and  always  with  the  greatest  regret  on 
the  part  of  the  people.  These  changes,  coming  when 
the  work  and  influence  of  the  pastor  seemed  to  be  at 
high  water  mark  for  doing  good,  were  somewhat  diffi- 
cult to  understand.  Whether  the  new  fields,  to  which 
our  pastors  were  called,  were  more  wicked  and  were 
therefore  more  needy  than  ours,  like  Chicago,  New 
York  and  New  Jersey,  I  may  not  say,  because  I  know 
not;  every  community  knoweth  its  own  wickedness. 
At  any  rate  the  Church,  resting  in  the  sublime  faith, 
that  there  is  a  Wisdom  higher  than  ours,  ruling  every- 
thing for  the  best,  accepted  the  conditions  thrust  upon 
it,  and  we  have  been  made  happy  in  retrospect  that 
always,  in  selecting  a  successor,  that  selection  has 
proved  a  most  happy  one;  and  so  we  have  come  to 
learn  over  and  over  again  the  old  lesson,  that  "the  Lord 
will  provide." 

We  had  hoped  to  have  with  us  on  this  occasion  two 
of  the  early  pastors  of  the  Church,  Dr.  Strong  and  Dr. 
Condit,  but  we  regret  that  by  reason  of  illness,  or  im- 
paired health  at  least,  neither  of  them  is  able  to  be 
here. 

Rev.  Dr.  Sample,  Pastor  for  so  many  years,  whose 
preaching  and  ministry  were  so  acceptable,  and  whose 


181 

influence  was  so  great,  is  no  longer  in  the  flesh ;  but  we 
have  faith  to  believe  his  spirit  is  with  us  in  these  days. 
The  impetus  for  good  work  augmented  by  his  pastor- 
ate, has  continued  to  this  day  and  even  this  beautiful 
edifice,  which  we  now  enjoy  so  much,  is  simply  the 
proceeds  in  a  new  form  of  the  Church  of  Dr.  Sample's 
time.  But  greater  than  all  this  was  the  work  of  Dr. 
Sample  in  building  the  spiritual  temple  of  Westmin- 
ster, laying  its  foundations,  deep  and  broad,  upon  prin- 
ciples as  enduring  as  truth  itself,  foundations  upon 
which  those  following  him  have  continued  to  build. 
Dr.  Sample  was  never  really  severed  from  this  congre- 
gation, but  as  long  as  life  lasted  he  felt  a  special  inter- 
est in  it  and  in  every  one  called  to  its  ministry  or  its 
membership.  Whenever  he  could  revisit  our  city  it 
was  a  source  of  unalloyed  satisfaction  to  him  and  to 
his  friends.  This  condition  reached  its  climax  when  in 
this  Church,  his  old  home,  he  was  made  moderator  of 
the  General  Assembly. 

Two  of  our  later  pastors,  who  followed  Dr.  Sample, 
we  all  rejoice  in  having  with  us  on  this  occasion ;  but  it 
will  fall  to  the  lot  of  him,  who  follows  me,  to  extend 
to  them  fitting  words  of  welcome. 

In  the  later  years  we  have  been  led  by  our  present 
pastor  into  green  pastures  and  beside  still  waters.  In 
the  near  past,  however,  these  waters  were  seriously 
troubled  by  an  urgent  and  flattering  call  to  him  from 
another  field  of  labor;  but  that  cloud  has  passed  and  I 


182    . 

feel  assured  that  I  utter  the  united  sentiment  of  our 
people  in  saying,  that,  among  all  the  causes  for  re- 
joicing upon  this  jubilee  occasion,  one  of  the  chiefest 
of  these  is  the  fact  that  our  beloved  pastor  is  to  abide 
with  us. 

I  now  gladly  relinquish  the  chair  to  Rev.  Dr.  Bush- 
nell,  pastor  of  Westminster  Church,  who  will  preside 
during  the  further  ceremonies  of  the  evening. 

Rev.  John  E.  Bushnell,  the  pastor,  thus  presented 
to  preside,  then  delivered  the  following  address  of 
welcome,  after  which  the  exercises  proceeded  in  order 
as  here  follows: 

"I  thank  you,  Mr.  Gilfillan,  for  your  most  kind  and 
gracious  words  of  introduction. 

The  joyful  anticipations  of  this  anniversary,  which 
have  for  so  many  months  filled  our  hearts,  are  now  to 
be  turned  into  happy  fulfillment,  which  the  printer 
will  soon  take  and  bind  into  a  volume  of  history.  In 
the  meantime,  let  us  rejoice  and  be  glad  in  one  another 
and  in  the  Lord  through  the  swiftly  passing  hours, 
that  bind  us  together.  Fifty  years  ago  Godly  men 
and  women,  under  the  blessing  of  God  and  the  guid- 
ance of  the  Holy  Spirit,  builded  better  than  they  knew 
in  the  organization  of  Westminster  Church.  It  began 
in  weakness,  as  a  beneficiary  of  the  Board  of  Home 
Missions  and  compelled  to  share  pastoral  oversight 
with  a  sister  church,  in  order  thereby  to  divide  its  ex- 
pense.    In  the  years  which  have  passed  since  then. 


183 

God  has  wonderfully  blessed  us.  Certainly  no  proud- 
er history  of  church  development  is  recorded  in  our 
country,  than  that  which  we  celebrate  on  this  occasion. 
It  is  not,  however,  my  function  to  rehearse  that  story, 
which  has  been  most  adequately  written  by  your  his- 
torian and  which  will  also  be  illuminated,  in  certain 
particulars,  by  those  best  fitted  to  adorn  the  theme. 

It  is  my  especial  privilege  to  extend  a  welcome  to 
the  greatly  beloved  former  pastors,  who  delight  us  all 
by  their  presence  as  our  honored  guests.  We  warmly 
appreciate  the  sacrifice  which  they  have  made,  in 
leaving  their  homes  at  this  opening  period  in  their  own 
important  Churches,  in  order  to  show  their  love  for 
Westminster;  and  we  are  also  grateful  to  their 
Churches  for  letting  us  have  them  to  ourselves  for 
this  one  week.  Every  Pastor  of  this  Church  has  had 
occasion  to  be  thankful  for  the  men,  who  have  gone 
before  him  in  his  sacred  office.  Each  one  of  those, 
who  have  been  pastors  and  removed,  have  adorned 
their  profession  by  a  noble  life  and  consecrated  and 
eminent  talents.  They  have  in  every  instance  had  the 
loving  and  loyal  devotion  of  this  people  and  could  al- 
ways be  sure  of  a  permanent  place  in  their  hearts. 
Their  names  will  be  cherished  with  reverence,  and  one 
of  our  greatest  reasons  for  thankfulness  today  is  that 
the  unbroken  harmony  of  Westminster  is  so  clearly 
manifest  in  so  beautiful  a  token  as  that.  One  of  the 
greatest  honors,  of  which  I  myself  am  conscious,  is 


184 

that  I  am  the  successor  of  those  men,  and  one  of  my 
chiefest  anxieties  is,  lest  I  prove  unworthy  of  my  in- 
hecitance.  Particularly  on  account  of  personal  ac- 
quaintance and  the  longer  term  of  their  service  here, 
do"  I  delight  in  my  three  distinguished  immediate  pre- 
decessors, one  of  whom  looks  down  on  us  from  Heaven 
and  two  I  am  to  have  the  satisfaction  of  greeting  to- 
night. Already  I  note  the  happiness,  which  shines  in 
your  faces,  at  the  sight  of  them  on  this  platform  and 
in  anticipation  of  hearing  their  loved  voices.  My  dear 
Drs.  Burrell  and  Hunter;  there  are  none  more  glad, 
than  I,  to  salute  you  at  this  time.  I  hail  your  coming 
with  gratitude,  as  I  have  long  anticipated  it  with  pleas- 
ure. Your  presence  was  absolutely  essential  for  this 
occasion,  and  I  have  trembled  lest  unforseen  conditions 
might  disappoint  our  hopes  of  you.  On  behalf  of  all 
this  people  and  our  entire  City,  which  holds  you  in 
honor  and  affection,  I  greet  you  and  welcome  you  to 
share  our  Jubilee.  If,  my  dear  brothers,  it  were  pos- 
sible to  bear  you  any  grudge,  it  would  be,  speaking 
out  of  the  natural  man,  that  your  lofty  standard  of 
character  and  your  eminent  efficiency  as  ministers  of 
the  Gospel  are  quite  incompatible  with  my  own  ease 
of  mind  and  body  as  your  successor.  But  you  have 
somewhat  relieved  the  embarrassment  of  such  a 
thought,  by  being  the  kind  of  men  you  are  and  preach- 
ing such  a  sweet  and  strong  Gospel  as  you  have,  so 
that  this  people's  hearts  have  grown  so  capacious  un- 


.^■^^'^vsism 


V-  lS5 


185 

der  your  example  and  instruction,  as  to  have  ample 
room  to  store  away,  somewhere  in  their  generous  af- 
fections, as  many  as  may  follow,  if  they  shall  only 
prove  worthy  of  such  an  enviable  place,  and  without 
disturbing  your  own  sure  stronghold  there. 

We  are  sure  you  bring  us  a  great  blessing.  We 
pray  that  you  may  also  carry  one  away,  to  help  you  in 
your  days  ahead.  I  only  voice,  what  the  eyes  of  this 
congregation  have  already  spoken  to  you.  We  wel- 
come you  back  to  the  old  home.  We  claim  you  en- 
tirely just  for  these  days.  The  more  you  can  mingle 
again  with  your  old  friends  in  their  homes  and,  by  the 
way,  the  more  you  can  give  them  of  yourselves,  so 
much  the  more  will  you  leave  a  helpful  influence  be- 
hind, which  will  make  my  own  work  lighter  and  bright- 
er after  you  are  gone  away.  And  to  Dr.  Thayer,  also 
on  this  platform,  one  of  the  Christian  pioneers  of  the 
Northwest,  whom  we  love  as  a  Father  in  Israel  and 
pray  that  his  going  to  heaven  may  be  long  delayed,  I 
extend  a  heartfelt  greeting. 

Let  us  now  unite  in  singing  what  is,  from  top  to 
bottom,  a  good  old  Presbyterian  hymn.  Let  us  all 
sing  two  verses  of  "How  Firm  a  Foundation,  Ye  Saints 
of  the  Lord." 

The  audience  joined  in  singing  hymn  No.  533,  "How 
Firm  a  Foundation,"  after  which  a  Scripture  lesson, 
consisting  of  1  Corinthians,  XIH,  was  read  by  Rev. 
Harry  G.  Finney,  Assistant  Pastor. 


186 

Dr.  Bushnell :  It  is  with  great  regret  that  I  have  to 
announce  that  Dr.  Adams,  on  account  of  official  du- 
ties, is  unable  to  be  here  this  evening;  but  I  am  glad  to 
call  upon  one  of  our  esteemed  Elders,  Dr.  Steele,  to 
lead  us  in  prayer.     He  united  with   this   Church   in 

1878. 

PRAYER. 
Dr.  J.  A.  Steele.  • 

O  Lord,,  our  strength  and  help,  Thou  hast  been  our 
dwelling  place  in  all  generations.  Before  the  moun- 
tains were  brought  forth,  or  ever  Thou  hadst  formed 
the  earth  and  the  world,  even  from  everlasting  to  ever- 
lasting. Thou  art  God.  We  pray  Thee,  fill  our  hearts 
with  gratitude  today,  and  may  the  meditations  of  our 
heart  be  acceptable  in  thy  sight,  O  Lord  our  strength 
and  our  Redeemer!  We  cannot  enumerate  the  mani- 
fold blessings,  which  Thou  has  showered  upon  Thy 
people  in  the  past  years,  but  we  thank  Thee  for  the  pro- 
tection Thou  hast  given  us;  we  thank  Thee  for  all 
that  Thou  hast  done  for  us,  for  we  have  seen  with  our 
eyes  and  heard  with  our  ears  that  Thou  hast  been 
mindful  of  Thy  people.  We  thank  Thee  for  the  many 
years  we  have  been  permitted  to  spend  in  Thy  service. 
We  thank  Thee,  O  Lord,  for  the  Christian  lives  and  ex- 
amples, which  Thou  hast  given  us,  many  of  whom 
have  gone  to  join  the  throng  above.     We  thank  Thee, 


187 

O  Lord,  for  the  many  opportunities  given  these  people 
to  extend  Thy  kingdom,  and  we  thank  Thee,  Lord, 
for  the  wondrous  unanimity  that  has  existed  during 
all  these  years  among  these  Thy  people.  O  Lord,  we 
do  praise  Thee  for  what  Thou  hast  done  for  us,  and 
may  these  blessings  serve  as  an  impetus  in  the  work 
of  building  up  Thy  cause  here  on  earth.  We  ask,  O 
Lord,  that  Thou  wouldst  do  for  us  in  the  future  as 
Thou  hast  done  in  the  past,  and  may  we  always  have 
Thy  presence  near  us.  We  ask  it  not  through  any 
merit  of  our  own,  but  we  asH  it  in  the  name  of  Christ 
our  Redeemer  and  the  Holy  Spirit.     Amen. 

A  baritone  solo,  "Tell  Me  the  Old,  Old  Story,"  was 
very  effectively  rendered  by  Mr.  Harry  E.  Phillips,  a 
member  of  Westminster  Choir. 

Dr.  Bushnell :  We  shall  be  glad  to  hear  a  word 
from  two  pastors  living,  but  detained  at  their  homes 
by  weakness  tonight.  Mr.  C.  T.  Thompson,  for  twen- 
ty-seven years  clerk  of  the  Session  of  this  Church,  will 
present  these  greetings  and  such  others  as  have  come 
to  his  hand.  Mr.  Thompson  is  a  man,  to  whom  we  owe 
an  unspeakable  debt  of  gratitude  for  writing  a  history 
of  the  Church,  and  for  his  long  and  faithful  service  as 
clerk  of  the  Session  of  Westminster  Church. 

Mr.  Charles  T.  Thompson  then  spoke  as  follows: 

Fifty  years  ago  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Paul  extended 
from  the  St.  Croix  to  the  Missouri;  and  from  Canada 
nearly  to  the  southern  boundary  of  our  State ;  a  migh- 


188 

ty  future  empire — but  then  an  almost  unbroken  wilder- 
ness. 

Fifty  years  ago,  on  August  23rd,  a  little  band  of  God- 
ly pioneers,  Presbyterians  of  Scotch-Irish  or  Welch 
descent,  organized  within  the  bounds  of  that  Presby- 
tery and  on  the  borders  of  that  Wilderness  this  Church, 
which  we  love.  In  humble  faith  in  an  Almighty  God 
and  in  reliance  upon  His  promises,  they  laid  for  it  a 
deep  foundation  of  orthodox  and  evangelical  Christian- 
ity. We,  who  have  entered  into  the  heritage  of  their 
labors,  have  much  for  which  to  be  grateful  today ;  but 
one  of  the  greatest  causes  of  gratitude  to  God  is,  that 
He  in  His  kind  Providence,  has  sent  to  this  Church  a 
succession  of  pastors  who  have  faithfully,  earnestly, 
prayerfully,  and  with  distinguished  ability  ministered 
to  us  in  holy  things;  and  who  have  all  of  them  con- 
tinued to  build  the  superstructure  of  Westminster 
Church,  upon  that  foundation  laid  by  the  Oliver  and 
Williams  families  in  1857. 

Only  six  pastors  in  all!  That  of  itself  is  a  noble 
record  in  this  restless  age!  Three  of  them  honor 
and  bless  us  with  their  presence  today ;  while  three  are 
not  here.     It  is  for  the  absent  that  I  am  to  speak. 

In  its  earliest  years  the  Church  had  three  temporary 
supplies,  Benjamin  Dorrance,  James  McKee  and  Levi 
Hughes,  none  of  whom  became  its  pastor. 

Robert  Strong  came  to  this  Church,  a  young  man  in 
feeble  health,  in  1861.     He  had  not  yet  been  ordained 


189 

to  the  ministry ;  but  he  was  ordained,  and  at  the  same 
time  installed  as  pastor,  in  October,  1862.  He  con- 
tinued his  active  pastoral  work  until  May,  1864,  when 
his  health  completely  gave  way  and  he  obtained  a  long 
leave  of  absence  from  the  Church,  in  the  hope  that 
he  might  become  physically  able  to  resume  the  work. 
In  this  hope  he  was  disappointed,  and,  in  the  spring  of 
1865,  his  pastoral  relation  with  this  Church  was  dis- 
solved. Mr.  Strong  was  compelled,  by  reason  of  his 
poor  health,  to  give  up  the  ministry  altogether.  For 
the  same  reason  he  has  been  compelled  to  decline  our 
invitation  to  be  present  today  as  our  guest;  but  he 
sends  to  us  this  greeting,  from  his  home  in  Pasadena, 
California : 
"Charles  T.  Thompson,  Esq., 

"My  Dear  sir:  Your  favor  of  the  14th  is  received, 
conve3ang  the  invitation  for  myself  and  my  wife  to  be 
present  as  the  Church's  guests  at  the  fiftieth  anniver- 
sary of  the  founding  of  Westminster  Presbyterian 
Church.  Pardon  the  seeming  discourtesy  of  this  long 
dela3'^ed  reply  to  the  invitation,  supposed  to  have  been 
extended  through  Mr.  Pettit  last  winter.  I  under- 
stood Mr.  Pettit's  communication  was  simply  an  an- 
nouncement of  an  invitation,  that  would  come  more 
formally  afterwards,  hence  the  delay. 

I  have  been  considering  the  invitation,  ever  since  it 
was  first  spoken  of.  It  is  needless  to  say  how  greatly 
I  think  I  would  enjoy  it  and  how  I  should  compare 


190 

with  open  eyes  the  city,  as  it  now  is,  with  what  it  was 
when  I  last  saw  it  in  1864,  and  the  little  church  on 
Fourth  Street  with  the  present  noble  building.  These 
forty-three  years  have  made  changes,  that  are  hard  to 
be  appreciated  except  by  open  vision.  I  should  miss 
the  old  friends,  who  welcomed  me  in  1861,  almost  all  of 
whom  have  passed  away,  but  they  served  their  genera- 
tion faithfully  and  builded  well  your  foundations  on 
which  you  have  erected  so  large  a  structure,  the  pride 
of  the  Northwest.  The  few  that  remain  ought  to  be 
held  in  the  highest  honor,  for  they  are  worthy  of  it. 

I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it  will  not  be 
wise  for  me  to  accept  the  invitation.  While  I  count 
myself  an  active  man  still,  'seventy  years  young,'  yet  I 
have  my  physical  limitations,  which  make  traveling 
not  only  a  burden,  but  a  danger;  and,  as  I  have  never 
regained  the  power  of  public  speaking,  I  could  not  add 
anything  helpful  to  your  public  ceremonies,  that  would 
justify  the  strain.  So  I  will  hope  to  hear  all  about  it 
at  this  distance,  and  rejoice  that  I  had  some  little  early 
part  in  the  great  accomplishment.  Please  express  to 
the  Committee  of  Arrangements  my  hearty  apprecia- 
tion of  the  honor  of  the  invitation.  I  remain. 
Very  sincerely  yours, 

Robert  Strong." 

Before  leaving  Minneapolis  in  1864,  Mr.  Strong  had 
induced  his  young  friend,  Robert  A.  Condit,  to  come 
to  this  Church  as  a  supply.     Mr.  Condit  came  in  the 


191 

fall  of  1864,  and,  after  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Strong, 
in  1865,  he  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Church.  The 
pastorate,  which  was  very  successful  in  many  respects 
and  which  was  especially  crowned  by  the  enlargement 
of  the  first  church  home  for  this  congregation,  was  ter- 
minated by  Mr.  Condit's  resignation  in  December, 
1867.  After  that  he  was  for  many  years  a  professor 
in  Coe  College  at  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa.  His  residence 
now  is  in  Pasadena,  Cal,,  though,  at  present  he  is  vis- 
iting among  old  friends  in  Illinois.  He  had  confident- 
ly expected  to  have  been  present  with  us  today,  but  his 
health  is  such  that  it  did  not  seem  to  be  wise  to  en- 
dure the  strain.  He  sends  to  us  these  words  of  greet- 
ing: 
"Mr.  Charles  T.  Thompson. 

Dear  Sir:  Your  letter  of  the  14th  from  Minneapolis 
has  been  forwarded  to  me  here.  I  fully  expected  to 
attend  the  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  Westminster 
Church,  but,  in  my  present  state  of  health,  I  do  not 
think  it  would  be  wise  for  me  to  do  so.  I  wish  how- 
ever, to  thank  you  and  through  you  the  Committee  for 
their  kind  and  generous  invitation  extended  to  Mrs. 
Condit  and  myself. 

It  would  have  given  me  great  pleasure  to  have  been 
present  on  this  occasion,  and  to  have  joined  in  these  ex- 
ercises. 

May  the  blessing  of  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church 
continue  to  rest  on  Westminster  Church. 

Yours  sincerely, 

R.  A.  Condit." 


192 

The  next,  whose  greetings  I  bring  you,  has  entered 
in  his  eternal  and  blessed  home,  where  he  is  worship- 
ping in  the  temple  not  made  with  hands,  instead  of  in 
the  earthly  temple  which  he  so  much  loved. 

The  name  of  Robert  F.  Sample,  who  became  our 
pastor  in  March,  1868,  awakens  blessed  memories  to- 
day. Few  pastors  have  made  upon  the  members  of 
their  congregation  a  greater  and  more  enduring  im- 
pression, than  that  made  by  him  upon  the  congrega- 
tion of  this  Church.  The  circumstances,  under  which 
he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  little  Church, 
seemed  to  its  members  to  be  providential.  He  had 
been  supplying  the  Andrew  Church  of  St.  Anthony 
for  several  years,  and  had  definitely  decided  to  remove 
to  some  other  field  of  labor.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, the  way  seemed  clear  to  the  officers  and  mem- 
bers of  Westminster  Church  to  invite  him  to  occupy 
the  vacant  pulpit  of  this  Church.  The  records  of  the 
congregational  meetings  record  the  fact,  that,  to  the 
members  of  the  Church  at  that  time,  the  indications  of 
Providence  seemed  plainly  to  point  to  him  as  the  one, 
whom  they  should  call. 

The  Church  records  contain  this  entry:  "God  was 
better  to  us  than  we  almost  dared  to  hope,  and,  to  our 
glad  surprise,  we  found  ourselves  united  in  making 
this  call.  Our  instinctive  feeling  was,  in  view  of  this 
result,  surely  this  is  of  the  Lord." 

The  pastoral  relation  thus  auspiciously  begun,  and 


193 

which  lasted  without  interruption  for  more  than  nine- 
teen years,  was  marked  during  its  entire  course,  by 
the  presence  and  blessing  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  His 
daughter,  Mrs.  Mary  Sample  Donaldson,  sends  us 
this  greeting  in  her  father's  stead: 
"Dear  Mr.  Thompson : — 

It  gives  me  unusual  pleasure,  on  this  jubilee  of 
Westminster  Church,  to  testify  that  my  father,  Dr. 
Sample,  had  peculiar  affection  for  it,  as  his  favorite 
charge. 

It  was  there  he  celebrated  his  longest  pastorate  of 
nearly  a  score  of  years.  In  it  he  did  his  greatest  work. 
He  found  his  greatest  satisfaction  in  the  brown  stone 
sanctuary  on  Seventh  Street,  and  he  secured  the  name 
"Westminster"  for  his  Church  on  Twenty-third  Street, 
New  York.  There  he  took  many  into  the  Church, 
whom  he  afterwards  married;  then  he  baptized  their 
children,  and  received  them  also  into  the  Church. 

I  remember  how  generous  the  Church  was  to  their 
pastor  and  his  family,  at  Dr.  Sample's  silver  anniver- 
sary and  at  my  own  wedding,  with  great  gratitude. 

Although  my  father's  ashes  lie  on  the  banks  of  the 
Hudson,  his  real  home  was  in  Minneapolis. 

As  the  Douglas  carried  the  heart  of  Bruce  to  the 
Holy  Land,  so  on  this  anniversary  day,  I  would  bring 
Dr.  Sample's  heart  to  lay  it  upon  your  altars,  with  his 
prayer  and  ours  that  God's  richest  blessings  may  rain 
upon  you  forever. 

With  happy  memories  and  fond  hopes, 
Yours  in  cordial  greetings, 

Mary  Sample  Donaldson. 


194 

I  have  no  toleration  for  spiritualism  in  the  common 
use  of  the  term,  but  I  do  believe  in  that  ministry  of 
Spirits,  of  which  the  Bible  speaks.  I  believe  that  God 
permits  to  His  saints,  who  have  arrived  at  home,  the 
privilege  of  looking  down  upon  the  scenes  of  earth  and 
of  witnessing  the  fruition  of  their  earthly  labors  in  the 
Master's  name.  I  believe,  therefore,  that  Robert  F. 
Sample  is  looking  down  upon  this  scene  tonight,  re- 
joicing with  us  over  the  accomplishments  of  the  past. 
Shortly  before  he  was  called  home,  he  penned  these 
lines  expressive  of  his  longing  for  rest  in  that  home. 

Jesus,  my  Lord,  I'll  wait  for  Thee 

Until  the  morning. 
I'm  weary  of  this  world  of  sin, 
Its  strife  and  toil  and  noisy  din. 
Its  race  wherein  few  ever  win : 
Yet  I  would  bear  the  cross  for  Thee 

Until  the  morning, 

Jesus,  my  Lord,  I'll  wait  for  Thee 

Until  the  morning. 
Some  day  my  sun  will  seek  its  rest. 
Strange  glory  lingering  in  the  west, 
While  sparrows  hie  them  to  their  nest. 
And  stars  shine  o'er  the  wide,  wide  sea 

Until  the  morning, 

Jesus,  my  Lord,  I'll  wait  for  Thee 
Until  the  morning. 


195 

I'll  meet  lost  friends  when  night  is  o'er, 
Where  we  shall  part  no  more,  no  more, 
And  love  as  once  in  days  of  yore — ■ 
But  sweeter  far  Thy  face  to  see. 
In  heaven's  morning. 

'Twill  not  be  long;  time  hastens  by — 

Until  the  morning. 
This  life's  a  span,  its  course  soon  run ; 
Its  work  will  all  be  quickly  done; 
E'en  now  we  hear  the  signal  gun ; 
And  night  gone  by,  I'll  upward  fly, 

In  God's  glad  morning. 

The  longing  expressed  in  these  verses  has  been  grat- 
ified; the  waiting  has  ended  and  "God's  glad  morning" 
has  dawned  for  him.  Just  before  that  dawning.  Dr. 
Sample,  as  his  last  earthly  message,  penned  some  other 
words,  which  have  a  forward  look  toward  the  Glory  to 
be  revealed.  Those  words,  only  changed  so  as  to  ex- 
press the  realization,  rather  than  the  anticipation,  of 
his  hopes,  I  give  you  as  his  own  message  of  greeting 
tonight. 

"At  death  the  Christian  simply  crosses  the  summit 
of  the  earthly  life,  and  lives  on  a  sunnier  side,  whilst 
your  poor  sight  stops  with  the  intervening  line  hills. 
The  immediate  Beyond  is  an  intermediate  state  of 
glory,  where  saints  await  the  resurrection  and  the  gen- 
eral judgment;  a  life  that  never  extends  downward 


196 

into  hidden  glades  and  deep  shadows  and  experiences 
of  pain,  but  one  that  suggests  rather  the  plain  of 
Sharon,  which,  leaving  the  troubled  sea  behind  it,  is 
continually  ascending  until  it  enters  the  city  by  the 
Joppa  gate.  Meanwhile,  you  tardier  ones,  toiling  over 
the  low  ground,  are  enriched  and  comforted,  as  was 
Jesus  in  the  desert,  by  the  ministry  of  angels  who  re- 
port your  progress  on  high,  and  departed  loved  ones 
now  and  then  may  come  near  to  you — especially  in 
some  great  emergencies  of  life — as  Moses  and  Elias 
came  to  the  lovely  mount,  and,  putting  their  strength 
beneath  your  weakness,  help  you  on  your  way. 

Thus  golden  ladders  will  always  be  dropping  low 
down,  climbing  thence  among  and  above  the  stars. 
Then  rejoice,  while  you  wait  for  the  morning,  and  sing 
brave  songs  as  the  consummation  of  your  hope  draws 
near." 

Dr.  Bushnell:  We  have  had  a  beautiful  pastorate, 
in  connection  with  the  upbuilding  of  our  mission  and 
charitable  work  at  Riverside  Chapel,  that  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Pabody,  and  associated  with  that  work  I  might 
say,  and  must  say,  was  the  ministry  of  Mrs.  Pabody. 
Mr.  Pabody  has  built  his  monument  in  the  hearts  of  his 
people,  and  has  consented  to  say  a  few  words  on  this 
occasion. 


197 

THOSE  EARLY  DAYS. 
Rev.  E.  F.  Pabody. 

The  subject  assigned  to  me,  "Those  Early  Days,"  I 
feel  is  not  appropriate  to  me,  for  one-third  of  the  his- 
tory of  the  Church  had  been  written  before  I  came  in 
to  membership  in  it.  So  I  stand  before  you  to  speak, 
not  of  the  very  early  days  of  Westminster  Church,  but. 
to  say  a  few  words  of  the  later  history  of  the  Church. 
It  was  in  1875,  that  I  became  a  member  of  it;  and  I 
feel  very  grateful  to  be  permitted  to  stand  here  to- 
night, to  bring  some  tribute  to  the  memory  of  that 
man,  whom  we  loved  so  dearly — Rev.  Dr.  Sample. 
No  life  has  touched  my  life  or  the  life  of  my  family^ 
as  has  the  influence  of  his  life.  He  gave  us  a  very 
warm  welcome  to  Westminster  Church,  he  baptized 
our  children  and  received  them  into  the  Church,  and  I 
was  glad  always  to  have  his  friendship;  it  was  helpful 
and  beneficial.  He  was  a  warm-hearted,  sweet-spir- 
ited, generous  soul  in  every  way.  His  friendship  was 
always  helpful,  benevolent,  ennobling  and  inspiring. 
As  a  pastor  he  was  sympathetic  ;  no  one,  perhaps,  more 
so,  when  great  sorrow  or  trouble  came  into  one's  life. 
Those  of  you,  who  knew  him,  know  that  the  great 
theme  of  his  preaching  was  salvation ;  the  dreadful  na- 
ture of  sin,  and  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ  to  save  sin- 
ners was  always  his  theme.  Thousands  and  thousands 
were  influenced  by  that  theme  and  brought  into  close 


198 

communion  with  Jesus  Christ,  His  influence  was  felt 
not  only  in  this  Church,  but  throughout  all  this  North- 
west; from  the  Mississippi  river  to  the  Pacific  ocean 
his  counsel  was  asked,  his  advice  was  sought,  and  he 
was  often  and  urgently  requested  to  appear  upon  the 
lecture  platform  all  over  this  great  country.  His  in- 
fluence is  still  felt.  We  rejoice  in  the  noble  works  he 
did  here,  we  rejoice  that  the  gospel  he  preached  is  the 
gospel  still  preached  in  this  Church.  At  the  General 
Assembly,  held  here  in  his  own  Church,  he  was  sig- 
nally honored  in  being  given  the  highest  office  in  the 
gift  of  the  great  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America.  Although  he  has  left  this  world,  I 
believe  his  spirit  is  certainly  with  us  tonight  and  he  is 
rejoicing  with  us  in  the  wonderful  work  done  in  the 
Westminster  Church. 

I  entered  the  communion  of  Westminster  Church  in 
1875  in  June — nearly  one-third  of  a  century  ago — and 
wonderful  changes  have  taken  place  during  that  time. 
The  little  Church  was  on  Fourth  street,  where  the  Ven- 
dome  Hotel  now  stands.  Dr.  Sample's  residence  was 
a  little  brown  frame  building  across  the  street  from 
the  Church ;  that  house  now  stands  on  First  avenue 
south,  at  the  corner  of  Twelfth  street,  and  I  always 
think  of  Dr.  Sample  and  his  family  when  I  see  that 
house.  The  Church  was  small  at  that  time,  about 
three  hundred  members,  and  it  seemed  to  me  they  were 
all  gathered  in  that  Church,  and  the  Church  members 


199 

were  gathered,  most  of  them,  around  the  Church,  could 
walk  to  it  in  a  few  minutes.  Mr.  McNair  and  others 
who  lived  on  the  East  Side  came  in  carriages,  but  some 
of  them  walked  to  Church.  It  seemed  to  me,  when 
church  was  over,  about  one-third  of  the  congregation 
went  north  on  Fourth  street  to  reach  their  homes.  On 
First  avenue  north  between  Third  and  Fourth  streets 
was  Mr.  J.  J,  Ankeny's  home,  and  that  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McLain,  and  a  little  further  down  was  Dr.  O.  J.  Evans, 
and  a  little  further  was  Mrs.  Whitmore.  On  Third 
street,  between  First  and  Second  avenues,  lived  Mrs. 
Wm.  P.  Ankeny,  while  between  Second  and  Third 
avenues  was  Mr.  S.  A.  Harris ;  and  near  Second  avenue 
and  Fourth  street  Mr.  Charles  Godley;  and  across  the 
street  was  Mrs.  Phillip  Godley,  whose  memory  we 
cherish  as  one  of  the  sweetest  women  the  world  ever 
produced.  My  home  was  next  to  that  of  Mr.  Godley, 
and  next  north  was  that  of  Major  Heffelfinger.  In 
that  block  there  were  five  families  that  were  members 
of  Westminster  Church.  Mrs.  Burd  lived  where  the 
Immaculate  Conception  church  now  stands.  The  mem- 
bers were  gathered  about  the  Church  and  the  pastor. 
Going  to  my  place  of  business  I  passed,  every  day,  the 
home  of  Dr.  Sample,  and  I  often  met  him.  My  place 
of  business  was  on  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Hen- 
nepin avenues  and  Dr.  Sample,  in  those  early  days, 
preferred  to  go  to  the  Post  Office  which  was  then  in 
the  old  City  Hall  building,  and  he  seldom  passed  my 


200 

place  of  business  without  coming  in  to  speak  a  few 
words  of  greeting. 

I  have  happy  memories  of  those  early  days  in  West- 
minster Church;  and  I  am  glad  to  look  into  the  faces 
of  so  many  here  tonight,  and  to  recall  the  scenes  of 
those  early  days.  When  going  to  Church,  we  met  a 
great  many  people  on  the  way  there — there  were 
friends  going  the  same  way,  and  they  would  walk  to- 
gether. There  was  no  noise  in  those  days,  no  street 
cars  running,  no  Sunday  traffic  to  disturb  the  quiet. 
The  streets  were  not  paved;  it  was  absolutely  quiet 
on  Sunday,  as  quiet  as  in  a  country  village,  and  O,  how 
we  enjoyed  that  quiet  and  what  a  contrast  there  is 
now! 

One  thing  I  have  forgotten  that  I  want  to  mention: 
Dr.  Sample  used  to  make  this  announcement  after  the 
benevolent  collection:  "You  will  find  your  cards  at 
the  store  of  Pabody  &  Whittaker,  where  you  will  call 
at  your  early  convenience  and  pay  them."  Mr.  Whit- 
taker was  a  deacon  in  the  Church  and  how  glad  we 
were  to  have  the  people  come  there  to  see  us,  and 
the  friendships,  that  we  formed  there,  will  continue 
through  eternity. 

What  wondrous  things  God  has  done  for  Westmin- 
ster Church  1  How  blessed  we  have  been  in  the  pas- 
tors we  have  had,  who  have  preached  the  gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ  in  all  its  simplicity  but  with  great  force- 
fulness  ;  and  great  multitudes  have  been  drawn  to  love 


Pleasant  Hunter,  D.D., 
Pastor   1892-1900 


201 

and  serve  Jesus  Christ;  and  the  gospel  has  been  car- 
ried all  around  the  world  through  the  influence  of 
His  spirit.  What  a  great  multitude  are  up  yonder 
tonight!  I  think  I  have  more  friends  up  there,  than 
I  have  down  here ;  only  a  little  while  and  we  shall  be 
gathered  up  there.  We  call  this  a  Jubilee  meeting, 
but  what  will  that  other  meeting  be?  We  cannot  con- 
ceive of  all  the  things,  God  has  prepared  for  them  that 
love  Him. 

Let  us,  on  this  occasion,  all  be  devoutly  thankful  for 
the  wonderful  Avork  that  God  has  wrought  in  West- 
minster Church. 

Dr.  Bushnell :  We  shall  have  the  privilege  of  listen- 
ing for  a  few  moments  to  one,  who,  for  twenty-seven 
years  was  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  this 
Church,  and  who  represents  the  type  of  men  who  have 
gone  into  the  foundation  of  this  institution — Mr.  Allen 
Hill. 

Mr.  Allen  Hill,  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
1874-1901,  then  spoke  on 

THE  PASTORATE  OF  DR.  SAMPLE. 

It  is  thirt3--five  years  last  Sunday,  since  I  joined 
Westm.inster  Church.  If  you  will  allow  me,  I  will  re- 
fer back  a  moment  to  Mr.  Condit  and  Mr.  Strong.  It 
has  been  my  privilege,  for  three  winters,  to  worship  in 
the  same  Church  with  these  brethren,  and  to  meet  with 


202 

them  is  to  meet  Westminster  Church.  I  have  talked 
with  them  time  and  again  of  the  early  days  here. 
Since  he  has  been  in  California,  Mr.  Strong  has  been 
an  honor  to  the  Presbyterian  Church ;  although  he  is 
not  able  to  speak  before  the  public,  he  has  now  the 
largest  Bible  class  in  the  church  at  Pasadena,  and  his 
influence  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Pasadena  is 
equal  to  that  of  any  pastor  in  the  city.  Mr.  Condit's 
health  is  such,  that  he  is  unable  to  do  any  work  what- 
ever. 

Dr.  Bushnell  said  I  could  have  only  ten  minutes, 
and  for  that  reason  I  will  not  burden  you  with  an  ad- 
dress, but  will  read  what  I  have  to  say. 

A  builder  is  often  judged  as  much  by  the  use  he 
makes  of  the  material  he  has  at  hand,  as  by  his  skill  in 
planning  the  structure. 

Let  us  see  what  material  Dr.  Sample  had,  when  he 
undertook  the  building  of  what  we  know  as  Westmin- 
ster Church. 

From  those  who  have  preceded  me,  we  learn  that  he 
had  the  keen  and  inquisitive  descendant  of  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers,  the  cool  and  conservative  Scotch-Irish  and 
Germans  from  Pennsylvania,  the  dashing  and  fiery 
cavaliers  from  Virginia  and  a  few  from  the  prairies  of 
the  West,  who  would  brook  no  restraint.  This  then 
was  the  rough  material,  with  which  he  had  to  build. 

Now  what  of  the  tools,  which  he  used  in  moulding 


203 

this  apparently  incongruous  mass  into  a  symmetrical 
whole  ? 

The  first  was  the  Holy  Bible,  which  he  believed  with 
his  whole  heart  to  be  the  word  of  God,  the  revelation 
of  God  to  man.  The  second  was  Christ,  the  Son  of 
God,  Who  upon  the  cross  paid  the  penalty  of  sin,  and 
through  Whose  atoning  sacrifice  all  can  come  again 
into  full  fellowship  with  the  Divine  Father. 

With  these  Divine  truths,  he  entered  upon  his  life 
work.  Those  of  us,  who  sat  for  years  under  his  min- 
istry, remember  with  what  fervency,  and  at  times 
with  tears,  he  urged  the  wrongdoer  to  come  to  Christ. 
We  have  seen  him  enter  the  pulpit  with  manuscript  in 
hand,  and,  when  he  would  begin  to  preach,  the  manu- 
script would  be  forgotten,  and  he  would,  as  it  were, 
pour  out  his  whole  soul  in  an  earnest  plea  for  the  sin- 
ner to  repent.  Often,  after  such  an  appeal,  many 
would  come  to  Christ. 

At  other  times,  he  would  denounce  sin  in  such  terms, 
that  many  would  be  startled  and  beg  of  him  not  to 
speak  so  in  public.  To  such  his  reply  would  be,  "My 
Master  described  sin  in  stronger  terms  than  I  could 
possibly  use,  and  shall  I,  His  servant,  make  light  of 
that  which  was  so  abhorrent  to  Him  ?"  It  was  his  love 
for  his  fellowmen  and  his  strong  desire  that  they 
should  be  reconciled  to  God,  that  made  him  such  a 
power  in  the  pulpit. 

His  influence  as  a  citizen  was  always  for  the  up- 


204 

building  of  society ;  and  he  would  labor  with  all 
classes  for  this  purpose.  But  his  strong  faith  in  the 
Divinity  of  Christ  would  not  allow  him  to  recognize 
fraternally  any  class  or  society,  which  would  lower,  in 
any  degree,  faith  in  the  Divinity  of  Christ. 

We  all  remember,  with  pleasure  and  profit,  his  vis- 
its to  our  homes.  When  trials  or  sorrow  came  to  us, 
he  was  alwa3''s  ready  with  the  right  word  of  sympathy, 
the  word,  which  would  place  under  the  trials  and  sor- 
rows the  love  of  God  in  Christ  and  cause  our  griefs  to 
lighten  in  the  abundant  love  of  God. 

My  friends,  we,  who  so  long  had  the  ministry  of 
Dr.  Sample,  know  that  it  was  his  faith  in  Christ,  which 
gave  him  that  strong  hold  that  he  had  in  this  city  and 
that  was  the  means  of  making  Westminster  Church 
what  it  is  today. 

And  3'ou,  his  successors  in  this  pulpit,  have  preached 
the  same  Gospel,  and  you  have  seen  the  same  results 
folloAv  from  your  efforts.  When  the  Centennial  of 
this  Church  is  celebrated,  may  it  be  an  occasion  of  re- 
joicing in  the  triumph  of  this  same  blessed  gospel. 

Dr.  Bushnell:  We  have  another  speaker  who  is  to 
tell  us  of  other  days.  We  are  very  fortunate  in  secur- 
ing the  consent  of  the  long  time  treasurer  of  this 
Church,  ]\Ir.  J.  J.  Ankcny,  to  come  to  this  platform  and 
say  a  few  words. 

I  want  to  introduce  our  Financial  Barometer,   Mr. 


205 

John  J.  Ankeny,  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
since  1871. 

Mr.  Ankeny :  Mr.  Chairman,  I  came  here  as  most 
of  you,  to  hear  our  distinguished  pastors.  It  does  not 
seem  right,  that  the  time  should  be  taken  up  by  the 
older  members;  but  I  am  here  and  very  glad  to  be 
here,  and  we  are  to  be  congratulated  on  having  with 
us  Doctors  Burrell  and  Hunter,  in  celebrating  this  our 
fiftieth  anniversary. 

Fifty  years  ago  last  May  I  arrived  in  Minneapolis ; 
and  it  was  my  pleasure  to  be  present,  when  this  Church 
was  organized  on  August  23rd  of  the  same  year.  I  was 
in  the  city  until  the  fall  of  1857,  when  I  went  into  Iowa 
and  came  back  in  1861 — I  think  it  was  the  spring  of 
1861 — and,  when  I  arrived  in  this  city,  I  had  $3.50  in 
my  pocket.  I  went  to  Westminster  Church  at  that 
time,  and  Westminster  Church  has  been  my  home 
ever  since.  In  the  year  1864 — forty-three  years  ago — I 
united  with  Westminster  Church  under  the  pastorate 
of  Dr.  Strong,  and  I  have  been  taking  an  active  part  in 
church  affairs  since  that  time.  I  am  the  oldest  male 
member  of  the  Church  today.  Do  not  understand  that 
I  am  the  oldest  in  years,  for  I  am  not  (laughter),  there 
being  a  number  here  who  are  older  in  point  of  years 
than  I,  but  I  have  been  a  member  longer  than  any 
man. 

Now  in  those  early  da)^s  so  many  things  occurred, 
which  I  would  like  to  speak  about ;  but  it  is  impossi- 


206 

ble.  Many  of  you  remember  old  Deacon  Oliver  (one 
of  the  Charter  members),  who  used  to  come  with  his 
mule  team  and  sled,  bringing  people  to  church ;  and 
we  seldom  opened  our  services,  until  we  saw  the  dea- 
con driving  up  and  then  we  were  always  ready  to  be- 
gin. Dr.  Bushnell  referred  to  the  time  I  took  the 
treasurership  in  1871.  Thirty-six  years  ago  I  was 
elected  treasurer  of  the  Church,  and  there  is  a  great 
deal  that  might  be  said  in  connection  with  that  office; 
but  I  have  not  the  time  to  cover  the  events  from  that 
period  up  to  the  present.  We  are  getting  up  a  Church 
history,  which  will  contain  a  great  deal  about  our  finan- 
cial aflfairs,  and  I  want  to  ask  everyone  interested  in 
this  Church  to  procure  a  copy  of  that  publication.  It 
would  take  a  great  deal  of  time,  to  tell  all  about  our 
financial  difficulties  and  trials.  In  those  early  days  we 
had  a  strenuous  time  financially,  and  we  were  obliged 
to  go  outside  of  the  Church,  and  even  outside  of  the 
city,  to  raise  money  to  pay  for  our  preacher  and  to 
pay  the  current  expenses  of  the  Church.  When  I  took 
hold  of  the  office  of  treasurer,  we  had  the  free  pew 
system,  and  the  envelope  system  was  used  for  raising 
money;  our  receipts  at  that  time  were  about  $3700  a 
year,  and  the  disbursements  were  about  $4300,  and  so 
we  were  about  six  hundred  dollars  on  the  wrong  side 
of  the  ledger  at  the  end  of  the  year.  In  1878  we 
adopted  the  rental  of  pews.  But  we  have  gone  through 
it  all,  and  today  it  would  be  impossible  to  tell  just 


207 

from  year  to  year  how  matters  financially  have  gone, 
but  I  can  say  that  the  last  report  shows  (April,  1907) 
that  our  receipts  for  current  expenses  were  $16,250.  I 
might  state  here,  that  Westminster  Church  today  is 
entirely  out  of  debt.  The  same  can  be  said  of  our  mis- 
sion chapels,  Hope  and  Riverside. 

Our  music  at  that  time  (1871)  cost  us  about  $300  a 
year;  at  present  we  are  paying  $3,250.  Prior  to  that 
time  we  had  a  volunteer  choir,  which  was  composed 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  W.  Wagner,  Mrs.  Charles  Godley 
and  Mr.  Joshua  Williams.  We  had  a  small  organ  at 
that  time  which  required  a  great  deal  of  muscular  ex- 
ertion to  bring  out  the  music,  and  your  humble  ser- 
vant did  the  pumping.  I  well  remember  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  congregation  held  in  1875.  It  had  been 
the  custom  to  remain  seated,  while  singing,  and  to 
stand  during  the  prayers.  You,  Dr.  Burrell,  will  re- 
member prayers  were  often  so  long  in  those  days 
(laughter),  that  one  became  very  tired  standing.  There 
was  much  opposition  to  any  change,  but  a  compromise, 
suggested  by  Mr.  W.  W.  McNair,  was  finally  reached, 
that  the  congregation  remain  seated  during  the  long 
prayer,  and  stand  during  the  singing  of  the  hymn  be- 
fore sermon  and  the  closing  hymn.  I  might  say  here, 
there  were  a  goodly  number  of  young  people  in  the 
meeting  that  night  and  that  they  voted  in  favor  of 
standing  during  the  singing.  The  choir  loft  at  that 
time  was  in  rear  of  church,  and  singers  could  only  be 


208 

seen  while  standing-.  The  music  at  times  was  very 
thriUing  and  excellent,  and  the  young  folks  were  in- 
terested and  preferred  to  face  the  choir  during  sing- 
ing, and  that  was  one  reason  why  the  motion  prevailed 
(laughter).  It  was  quite  a  while  before  some  of  our 
people  could  get  into  the  new  order  of  things,  particu- 
larly to  remain  sitting  during  pra5''ers. 

In  regard  to  contributions  in  early  days  for  the  be- 
nevolent fund  I  can  say  ver_y  little,  as  that  was  in 
charge  of  the  session.  I  might  say,  however,  that  dur- 
ing Dr.  Strong's  pastorate  (two  years  and  a  half)  the 
contributions  for  benevolent  purposes  were  for  the 
year  1861  $28.00 :  in  1863  they  were  $45.00.  The  gross 
contributions  for  all  benevolent  purposes  for  the  year 
ending  April,  1907,  were  $23,250. 

Mr.  Chairman,  it  is  getting  late  and  there  are  oth- 
ers here,  from  whom  we  are  anxious  to  hear  on  this 
joyful  occasion,  so  I  will  close.  My  earnest  prayer  is 
that  Westminster  may  grow  as  much  spiritually  and 
financially  in  the  next  fifty  years,  as  she  has  in  the  past. 

I  thank  you. 

Dr.  Bushnell :  And  now  I  will  let  you  have  Dr.  Bur- 
rell. 

Rev.  David  James  Burrell,  pastor  from  1887-1891, 
then  spoke  as  follows : 

I  am  happy  to  be  here.  The  first  sick  call  I  ever 
made  in  !?vIinneapolis  was  on  a  dear  old  lady,  the  moth- 
er of  one  of  your  members.     She  took  my  wife's  hand 


209 

and  mine  and  looked  up,  with  a  heart  full  of  love  for 
Westminster,  and  said,  "I  hope  you  like  it,  I  hope  you 
like  it."  And  we  "liked"  (Laughter)  ;  and  you  can 
count  on  me  as  long  as  I  live.  I  love  Westminster 
Church.  I  think  the  only  vote  that  was  passed  against 
me,  when  I  was  proposed  as  pastor  of  this  Church,  was 
by  one  of  the  elders — poor  man — (laughter)  on  the 
ground  that  I  was  not  orthodox  (Great  laughter). 
That  is  the  only  time,  when  that  was  ever  alleged 
against  me.  The  man  who  did  that  was  the  last  man 
who,  four  years  later,  said  good  bye  to  me ;  and  I 
will  never  forget  it — and  I  will  talk  with  him  in  heaven 
one  of  these  days — and  I  shall  never  forget  what  he 
said.  He  came,  a  little  after  all  the  rest  had  gone,  and 
he  held  my  hand  and  pressed  it  hard,  and  said,  "if  any- 
body in  this  Church  is  sorry  at  your  going,  I  am  more." 
God  bless  his  memory!  Dear  Professor  Hall!  How 
he  did  stand  by  me,  when  he  found  I  was  true  to  the 
right  and  to  the  elders,  as  well  as  those  former  pastors 
of  the  Church.  Some  of  the  elders  are  still  in  the  land 
of  the  living,  and  some  are  living  on  the  other  side. 
But  I  would  like  to  know  what  was  the  matter  with 
William  M.  Tenney?  Was  there  ever  a  dearer  man? 
Down  there  in  New  England,  he  is  now  living  a  loving, 
helpful  life.  He  is  superintendent  of  his  Sunday 
school  in  New  England.  How  we  loved  him !  Then 
there  was  Tenney's  wife.  She  was  so  loyal  to  all  of 
the  work  of  the  Church.  You  know  the  sky  is  full  of 
faces  tonight,  of  those  who  have  gone  on. 


210 

But  it  is  a  melancholy  thing,  to  have  to  do  with 
reminiscences.  I  may  look  back  sometime,  but  I  am 
not  going  to  begin  tonight.  Some  of  the  men  have 
spoken  of  Dr.  Sample.  I  never  knew  him  here.  I 
found  him  out,  when  I  went  to  New  York,  He  looked 
melancholy,  but  he  had  a  twinkle  in  his  eye.  He  look- 
ed as  though  life  was  not  worth  living,  and  yet  he 
was  so  happy  in  living,  after  all.  He  lived  so  true  to 
the  mark;  so  true  to  the  light.  If  ever  a  man  lived 
true  to  the  line,  that  man  was  Dr.  Sample.  I  tell  you 
Dr.  Hunter,  you  and  I  and  you  (Dr.  Bushnell)  have 
got  to  live  pretty  well,  if  we  size  up  to  Dr.  Sample. 
You  have  not  said  anything  too  much  about  him.  I 
am  going  one  of  these  days,  where  I  am  going  to  have 
a  better  time  than  I  am  having  now;  and,  when  I  am 
gone,  I  only  hope  you  will  talk  about  me  as  you  do 
about  Dr.  Sample.  I  hear  his  voice  now.  We  were 
dear  friends  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  I  feel  the 
touch  of  his  hands  in  mine  now,  and  I  feel  with  Words- 
worth :  A  poet  was  going  along  a  country  road  and 
saw  a  man  swinging  a  scythe  in  the  field,  and  as  he 
worked  he  was  singing.  The  poet  went  and  sang  his 
song: 

"I  listened  till  I  had  my  fill, 
And  as  I  clambered  up  the  hill. 

The  music  in  my  soul  I  bore 

Long  after  it  was  heard  no  more." 
Now — speaking  of  this  Church ;  this  I  suppose  is  a 


211 

fair  to  middling-  Church ;  but  give  me  the  old  Church. 
The  second  temple  has  no  glory  like  the  old  temple  to 
me.  I  take  honor  to  myself  for  having  put  the  pulpit 
out  of  Westminster  Church,  so  the  preacher  is  no  long- 
er a  man  way  above  the  people,  like  a  servant  looking 
out  of  a  balcony  window,  but  he  is  one  of  them.  Tell 
that  about  me,  when  I  am  gone  (Laughter).  That  is 
one  of  the  best  things,  I  ever  did.  I  loved  that  old 
church,  and  no  other  in  this  part  of  the  world  will  be 
quite  so  dear  to  me.  I  was  in  one  of  Jerry  McCauley's 
meetings  years  ago,  and,  after  delivering  the  anniver- 
sary address,  I  stayed  to  the  testimonial  meetings,  and 
all  sorts  of  reformed  drunkards  gave  praise  to  the 
power  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  At  last  a  woman  arose 
down  in  the  rear  of  the  room ;  a  thin  faced,  washed  out, 
hollow  eyed,  weak  sort  of  a  woman.  She  rose  and 
said  nothing.  There  were  tears  running  down  her 
cheeks ;  she  said  nothing,  but  quietly  rubbed  her  hands 
and  looked  about.  Then  she  said:  "Oh,  I  love  this 
place !  I  love  every  window  here,  I  love  every  board 
in  the  floor,  I  love  every  nail  in  the  wall.  Don't  ever 
change  this  place !  Just  two  months  and  ten  days 
ago  I  came  through  that  door,  a  sunken,  a  lost  woman. 
I  knelt  down  with  one  of  you  (she  pointed  to  the  man), 
I  knelt  down  over  there,  and  a  sunburst  came  into  my 
heart.  It  was  just  there.  Oh,  I  love  this  place! 
Don't  ever  change  it !"  Perhaps  there  are  people  who 
love  this  place  and  say,  "I  was  born  here."     God  bless 


212 

you  in  the  new  house !  The  old  Avas  not  better,  the 
new  is  always  better.  I  am  not  looking  back,  I  am 
looking  ahead  for  Westminster.  I  remember  how 
sorry  you  were,  when  the  old  church  burned.  The 
dross  may  perish,  but  the  grain  is  not  affected.  To- 
morrow Avill  be  better  than  today.  I  am  sorry  we  can- 
not have  Dr.  Sample  up  here  in  the  light,  but  by  God's 
Providence — and  I  am  as  true  to  Dr.  Sample's  mem- 
ory as  3''ou  men  can  be — for  the  conditions,  as  they  are 
here  now,  you  have  a  better  man  than  he.  You  (Dr. 
Hunter)  followed  me,  and  you  were  a  better  man  than 
I  was.  (Laughter).  And  better  men  are  coming 
than  Dr.  Bushnell.  That  is  the  way  it  works  in  all 
cases.  Tomorrow  is  always  better  than  today.  You 
cannot  make  me  strike  the  line,  because  I  believe  in  a 
good  world  and  a  good  God.  There  are  better  times 
ahead  for  Westminster.  But,  when  we  are  gone,  let 
nobody  mourn  for  us  because  we  have  been  promoted, 
gone  into  the  General  Assembly  of  the  first  born,  and 
singing  better  hymns  than  we  are  singing  now.  I 
think  Thackeray  made  a  great  mistake,  the  same  mis- 
take I  am  making  now,  of  hanging  on  too  long.  In 
"The  Newcomes"  the  place  to  close  his  novel  was, 
where  the  old  Colonel  died.  What  a  place  for  stopping 
that  was!  You  remember  the  old  man  lay  dying,  old 
Colonel  Newcome,  and,  in  his  delirium,  his  boyhood 
came  back  to  him.  He  was  a  pupil  again  in  the  old 
academy  school,  the  head  master  was  calling  the  roll. 


213 

The  old  Colonel  heard  the  boys"  names  called  one  by 
one.  At  last  he  seemed  to  hear  "Newcome."  He  rose 
on  his  elbow  and  with  his  eyes  bright,  he  answered, 
"Absent,  present !"  and  was  gone.  What  do  you  think 
of  that?  That  is  the  way  Dr.  Sample  answered  to  his 
name.  I  am  going  to  be  here  a  week,  and  my  heart 
will  be  glad  every  minute  of  every  day  I  shall  be  here. 

Dr.  Bushnell :  I  will  not  stand  longer  between  j^ou 
and  Dr.  Hunter.  Now,  Dr.  Hunter,  the  people  are 
yours. 

Dr.  Hunter,  pastor  from  1892-1900,  spoke  as  follows: 

I  was  born  to  the  ministr}^  on  the  seventh  of  June, 
1883.  The  first  Sabbath  of  my  ministry  I  had  the 
pulpit  removed,  and  it  was  never  brought  back.  That 
was  six  years  before  the  pulpit  was  taken  out  of  old 
Westminster.  Please  tell  that  to  your  members. 
(Laughter). 

There  are  a  great  many  things,  that  I  could  tell  in 
connection  with  my  seven  and  one-half — nearly  eight — 
years  here.  Some  of  the  early  incidents  are  very  in- 
teresting to  me.  I  might  especially  refer  to  the  pre- 
liminary steps,  and  how  difficult  it  was  for  me  to  recon- 
cile easily  some  of  the  statements,  made  by  the  men 
of  the  pastoral  committee,  with  some  of  the  facts  as 
they  developed.  A  good  brother  came  down  to  hear 
me  preach,  and  after  the  service  he  said,  "I  was  over  in 
New  York  and  heard  of  your  Church,  and  thought  I 
would  hear  you  today."     Another  good  brother  came 


214 

up  and  said,  "I  was  here  in  the  east  looking  for  a  riding 
horse,  and  thought  I  would  come  in  to  hear  you 
preach."  (Laughter).  There  were  several  such  things, 
that  were  very  interesting  to  me  at  the  time.  Then, 
too,  when  the  larger  committee  came  to  visit  me  it  was 
simply  impossible  to  shake  them  off,  and  one  of  the 
men  who  showed  the  greatest  persistence  was  that 
good  man,  Mr.  Tenney.  Finally  I  conceived  this  plan: 
I  said,  "Come  in  and  take  dinner  with  me  tomorrow 
night,"  and  I  thought  if  they  sat  at  the  table  once,  that 
would  be  enough ;  but  it  was  not.  Then  I  said,  "I  will 
hand  you  over  to  the  whole  session,  and,  if  they  are 
willing  to  lose  me,  I  am  willing."  They  went  there  and 
asked  them  to  let  me  come.  One  of  the  dear  old  men 
said,  "Well,  if  you  came  here  and  wanted  to  take  our 
wives  home,  I  suppose  we  should  say  yes."  Some  of 
the  committee  felt  very  cheap,  when  they  left  that 
night.  I  think  I  found  more  unusual  things  the  first 
few  weeks,  than  I  ever  found  before.  Everything  that 
came  up  that  was  a  little  unpleasant,  they  said  it  was 
very  unusual.  I  came  out  in  May,  and  I  said,  "Have 
you  no  mosquitos  here?"  They  said,  "Oh,  yes,  we 
have  a  few,  but  very  seldom."  I  came  back  in  Octo- 
ber, and  in  Chicago  I  asked,  "Have  you  any  mosqui- 
tos here?"  The  man  said,  "Lots  of  them."  When  I 
got  to  the  hotel  here  I  said,  "You  have  a  good  many 
mosquitos  here."  "Yes,"  he  said,  "we  have  more 
than  usual  this  year,  but  you  know  the  mosquitos  in 


215 

Minnesota  don't  bite  like  the  eastern  mosquitos! 
(Laughter).  I  thought  they  were  the  most  unusual 
people  I  ever  met.  I  put  a  stop  to  it  in  this  way :  We 
had  several  rainy  days,  and  I  said,  "This  is  terrible, 
we  will  never  see  the  sun  again."  "Oh,  yes,  we  will," 
they  said.  "No,"  I  said,  "we  will  never,  never  see  the 
sun  again."  They  said,  "Oh,  yes,  we  had  rain  be- 
fore." I  said,  "Is  that  possible?  This  must  be  an  un- 
usual year!"     (Great  laughter). 

To  be  more  serious.  When  I  came  to  Westmin- 
ster it  was  not  long  before  I  found  the  weather  manu- 
facturers on  the  committee  who  were  so  easily — I  don't 
know  what  word  to  use — I  was  going  to  say  sold,  were 
usual  men  in  all  respects,  but  I  did  find  unusual  peo- 
ple, unusual  in  many  respects.  From  the  very  first,* 
I  heard  a  great  many  good  things  about  Dr.  Sample 
and  a  great  many  good  things  about  Dr.  Burrell,  and  I 
was  not  at  all  discouraged ;  in  fact,  there  was  one  thing 
that  encouraged  me  much.  Every  one  told  me  he  was 
a  great  pulpit  orator.  They  said,  if  he  had  been  a 
politician,  he  would  have  been  a  "hummer."  (Laugh- 
ter). I  knew  I  was  not  equal  to  him  in  that  respect. 
Now,  I  want  to  tell  you  a  story  which  then  brought 
me  much  comfort.  When  I  first  came,  a  gentleman, 
speaking  of  the  former  pastors  of  the  Church,  remark- 
ed, "I  do  not  think  it  possible  for  me  to  be  as  good  as 
Dr.  Sample  was,  but  I  would  put  up  a  big  bluff  to  be 
as  good  as  Burrell."     (Great  laughter).     So  I  started 


216 

out  here  and  said,  "If  I  can't  preach  the  way  Burrell 
does,  if  I  can't  make  a  platform  speech  like  he  does, 
there  is  some  little  comfort  I  can  take  for  myself  from 
this  story.  The  Doctor  conceded  the  truth  of  the 
story,  because  he  said  I  was  a  better  man.  (Laugh- 
ter). 

Those  were  seven  and  a  half  of  exceedingly  happy 
years.  During  those  years,  I  came  into  your  homes  in 
times  of  sorrow  and  in  times  of  joy.  We  were  permit- 
ted to  sit  many  times  around  the  table  of  the  Lord.  I 
was  permitted  to  receive  large  numbers  into  the 
Church,  even  during  that  year  and  a  half  when  we  were 
without  a  church  home;  and  I  seriously  doubt  if  there 
is  another  church  in  the  United  States,  that  would  have 
•  shown  the  loyalty  that  this  Church  showed.  During 
that  time,  more  than  a  year  and  a  half,  as  I  understand 
it  (I  may  be  mistaken)  we  worshipped  in  a  theater, 
which  was  not  considered  safe  as  a  playhouse,  and, 
for  that  reason,  there  were  several  who  remained  away 
from  the  services,  because  it  was  a  dangerous  place. 
When  we  came  back  to  the  new  church,  there  was  not 
a  pewholder  who  was  missing.  I  tell  that  as  an  illus- 
tration of  the  loyalty  of  this  Church.  That  describes 
Westminster  Church, 

During  those  years  we  had  many  happy  times.  We 
were  together  in  sorrow  and  together  in  joy,  and  when 
we  parted  we  parted  the  very  best  friends.  I  stood  it 
for  seven  and  one-half  years  and  you  stood  it  for  seven 


217 

and  one-half  years;  and  now  we  are  together  tonight 
and  can  look  into  each  other's  faces,  and  feel  that  we 
are,  in  deed  and  in  truth,  friends.  I  rejoice  with  you 
tonight  with  joy  exceeding  that  we  are  celebrating 
the  fiftieth  anniversary ;  and  I  trust  that  these  days  will 
be  days  that  may  be  profitable,  because  they  will  lead 
some  of  us,  who  are  younger  in  years  and  experience  in 
Westminster  Church,  to  feel  that  this  whole  atmos- 
phere within  these  walls  is  one  of  inspiration  and  up- 
lifting to  us  all.  And,  as  we  have  brought  to  our  at- 
tention the  men  and  women,  who  have  gone  before, 
who  were  instrumental  in  the  building  of  this  Church, 
let  us  use  these  words  and  quote,  "Seeing  that  we  are 
encompassed  about  with  so  great  a  crowd  of  wit- 
nesses, let  us  do  away  with  worldliness  and  selfishness 
and  every  sin  that  beset  us,  and  let  us  run  with  dili- 
gence and  sacrifice  the  race  that  lies  before  us." 

I  was  touched  tonight  when  I  looked  at  the  program 
and  saw  the  names  that  appear  thereon  of  the  present 
members  of  the  Boards,  to  note  that  six  of  the  twelve 
Elders  have  come  into  office  since  I  went  away.  Of 
the  Board  of  Deacons,  fourteen  have  gone  into  the 
diaconate  since  I  left;  and  it  is  a  blessed  assurance  to 
know  that  the  work  of  Westminster  will  go  on,  be- 
cause there  are  always  those  to  fill  the  places  of  others 
who  drop  out. 

Dr.  Bushnell:  Some  one  at  the  beginning  of  this 
Jubilee  said  to  me,  "I  have  one  request  to  make:  Please 


218 

let  us  sing  the  old  songs."  Now  let  us  sing  together 
that  old  song,  "Shall  We  Gather  at  the  River."  After 
we  have  sung  that  hymn,  I  am  going  to  call  on  one  of 
the  old  veterans  of  the  Northwest,  who  has  given  his 
life  to  the  service  of  the  Master,  to  come  to  the  plat- 
form to  pronounce  the  benediction. 

After  the  singing  of  the  hymn,  the  closing  prayer 
was  made  and  the  benediction  pronounced  by  the  Rev. 
James  A.  Paige. 


CHAPTER  10. 
Ube  (3olt)en  5ubilce«*(Iontinuet). 

On  Friday,  October  4th,  the  evening  was  devoted 
to  a  reception  and  reunion.  The  printed  program 
contained  the  following  invitation.  "The  members  of 
the  Church  and  congregation  and  friends  are  cordially 
invited  to  attend  a  reception  for  the  pastors,  former 
pastors  and  earlier  members." 

The  guests  of  honor  were  Rev.  and  Mrs.  David 
James  Burrell;  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Pleasant  Hunter;  Rev. 
and  Mrs.  John  Edward  Bushnell ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curtis 
H.  Pettit,  who  received  the  people. 

The  Chapel  and  adjoining  rooms  had  been  beautiful- 
ly decorated  for  the  occasion,  and  an  orchestra  play- 
ed sweetly  during  the  entire  evening;  refreshments 
were  served  by  the  members  of  the  Westminster  Mis- 
sionary Guild,  under  the  direction  of  Mrs.  H.  M.  Hill. 

The  reunion  of  old  friends  was  delightful.  It  is  es- 
timated that  over  seven  hundred  people  were  present. 
The  occasion  was  a  great  success;  and  it  appeared  to 
be  the  universal  opinion  that  it  was  the  most  enjoy- 
able occasion  of  the  kind  ever  held  in  connection  with 
the  Church. 


220 

THE  JUBILEE  OF  THE  WOMEN'S  AND  YOUNG 
PEOPLE'S  SOCIETIES. 

The  meeting  on  Saturday  afternoon,  was  one  of  the 
most  enjoyable  of  all.  Upon  the  platform  was  Mrs. 
George  H.  Miller,  who  acted  as  presiding  officer  and 
introduced  the  speakers,  and  also  a  number  of  the  old- 
est living  members  of  the  Church. 

The  exercises  opened  with  the  singing  of  the  hymn, 
"The  Church's  One  Foundation,"  followed  by  the 
Scripture  Lesson,  read  by  Miss  Eliza  W.  Baker  and 
the  prayer  by  Mrs.  E.  F.  Pabody. 

The  Chairman,  Mrs.  Miller,  then  introduced  the 
other  exercises  with  these  remarks : 

"We  are  glad  to  be  here  today  and  raise  our  jubilee 
song  of  praise  for  all  the  way  Westminster  Church 
has  been  led,  from  the  day  of  small  things  until  the 
present,  when  her  branches  extend  in  all  directions 
even  to  many  parts  of  the  world.  We  shall  be  told 
of  the  struggles  of  those  who  laid  the  foundation  of  this 
Church ;  and  our  debt  of  gratitude  will  grow  larger,  as 
we  learn  what  we  owe  to  the  faithfulness  of  those 
who  built  so  well.  We  have  entered  into  their  la- 
bors, are  reaping  the  harvest  of  what  they  so  bounti- 
fully sowed." 

I  will  now  introduce  to  you  Mrs.  J.  J.  Linn  and 
Mrs.  Charles  M.  Godley,  two  of  the  oldest  members 


221 

of  the  Church,  who  will  give  us  their  personal  recol- 
lections of  those  early  days. 

Mrs.  Linn:  A  few  weeks  ago,  a  Sunday  paper,  in 
noticing  the  coming  Jubilee  of  Westminster,  gave  a 
short  history  of  the  Church,  and  to  what  it  has  ar- 
rived; its  strength,  resources,  plentitude  and  power; 
the  several  churches  that  have  grown  from  its  ranks 
and  are  now  strong  and  doing  their  own  work  for  the 
Kingdom ;  its  missions,  charities  and  membership  of 
more  than  two  thousand.  All  this  is  a  good  showing 
for  even  fifty  years  in  a  western  town,  where  there 
are  several  hundred  other  churches. 

When  the  eight  earnest  men  and  women,  who  form- 
ed the  first  membership,  after  careful  deliberation,  de- 
cided, as  the  outcome  of  much  prayer  and  faith  in  God, 
to  make  an  attempt  to  form  an  organization,  by  hold- 
ing a  meeting,  the  notices  to  that  effect  were  written 
on  slips  of  paper  and  left  at  the  different  houses  in  the 
small  community.  This  distribution  was  made  by  a 
school  boy,  Joshua  Williams,  the  eldest  son  of  Louis 
H.  Williams,  who  was  the  father  of  Old  School  Pres- 
byterianism  in  Minneapolis. 

I  have  been  asked  to  write  something  of  the  first 
woman's  organization  in  the  Church.  Appealing  to 
an  unusually  good  memory,  many  of  my  early  experi- 
ences stand  out  like  pictures. 

In  the  spring  of  1859  the  then  new  Westminster  was 
holding  services  in  Fletcher's  Hall,  which  stood  on 


222 

Helen  Street,  now  Second  Avenue  South,  a  little  east 
of  Washington  Avenue.  It  was  a  second  story  room 
over  a  store,  with  severely  plain  walls;  paper  shades 
hung  at  the  four  windows;  a  small,  low  platform  held 
the  desk  and  chair;  and  long  wooden  benches,  with  two 
bars  at  the  back,  were  seats  for  the  congregation.  A 
black  board  on  the  wall  and  a  small  book-case  for  the 
use  of  the  Sabbath  School  completed  the  primitive 
furnishings.  On  the  side  wall,  near  the  door,  were 
hooks  for  the  hats  of  the  men. 

The  congregation,  while  not  large,  was  of  the 
staunch  and  true.  Many  were  of  Scotch-Irish  strain; 
fresh  from  the  older  states  with  all  their  opportunities 
and  privileges;  brought  up  in  the  old  way,  and  their 
children  after  them.  These  were  the  foundation  stones 
of  the  present  Westminster. 

The  entrance,  from  the  street,  to  this  "upper  room," 
was  by  a  straight  steep  stairway,  between  two  plas- 
tered walls.  Once  inside,  it  was  God's  House.  No 
one  seemed  at  all  conscious  of  the  barren  surround- 
ings, treading  the  bare  floor  with  reverent  feet,  and 
with  devout  spirit  and  believing  hearts  enjoying  the 
simple  service  so  dear  to  them. 

The  Rev.  Levi  Hughes  supplied  the  pulpit.  He  was 
of  marked  ability  as  a  preacher  and  very  acceptable  as 
a  pastor.  After  the  invocation,  a  hymn  was  read  and 
Mr.  Joseph  C.  Williams,  getting  his  pitch  from  his 
tuning  fork,  started  a  familiar  tune  in  which  all  joined. 


223 

V7e  followed  Mr.  Williams'  lead  in  singing,  but,  as  he 
was  not  always  strong,  if  there  was  the  slightest  hesi- 
tation, Mrs.  Williams'  low,  clear  voice  was  heard  and 
quickly  followed.  It  was  a  cheerful  service,  though  so 
plain. 

Several  months  later,  one  sunny  June  morning,  at 
the  close  of  the  sermon,  Mr.  Hughes  asked  the  atten- 
tion of  the  people  for  a  few  moments,  as  he  had  some- 
thing personal  to  say  to  them.  It  was  this :  for  some 
months  past  his  hearing  had  been  impaired.  He  had 
sought  medical  advice,  but  had  found  no  relief,  and  felt 
that  he  should  tell  his  people.  It  did  not  affect  his 
preaching  and  would  not  be  recognized,  but  in  his  per- 
sonal relations  with  them,  and,  particularly  with  stran- 
gers, he  found  difficulty.  He  still  hoped  for  the  best, 
loved  his  work  and  did  not  wish  to  give  it  up;  but 
the  congregation  must  decide,  and  he  asked  them  to 
give  him  some  indication  of  their  wishes.  If  he  re- 
mained, he  must  ask  for  some  aid  in  his  work ;  and  he 
particularly  appealed  to  the  ladies,  who,  he  said,  could 
greatly  assist  him,  in  welcoming  the  strangers  who 
were  beginning  to  come  into  the  Church,  All  this  was 
a  surprise  to  many  of  his  hearers.  But  one  feeling 
prevailed;  the  desire  to  keep  him  with  us,  which  was 
freely  expressed. 

In  conversation  with  Mrs.  A.  C.  Taylor  the  follow- 
ing morning  as  to  what  could  be  done  to  relieve  the 
situation,  I  mentioned  a  society  which  existed  in  the 


224 

town  I  came  from,  which  was,  socially,  a  success  and 
in  a  year  gave  us  a  sufficient  return,  as  well,  to  furnish 
a  new  church,  which  was  just  completed  and  occupied 
when  I  left  to  come  to  Minneapolis. 

Mrs.  Taylor,  afterwards  Mrs.  A,  C.  Morgan,  of  bless- 
ed memory,  and  I,  discussed  the  method  of  this  organ- 
ization, and  she  laid  it  before  the  ladies  of  the  con- 
gregation within  the  next  few  days.  They  responded 
with  enthusiasm.  A  meeting  was  arranged,  at  once, 
and  was  held  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  John  Walker.  A 
society  was  formed  and  officers  elected.  It  was  called 
the  Pastor's  Aid  Society,  though  for  a  short  time  it  was 
known  as  the  Sewing  Society. 

The  members  of  this  first  society  were:  Mesdames 
Louis  H.  Williams,  Joseph  C.  Williams,  John  G.  Wil- 
liams, A.  W.  Oliver,  Henry  Beeman,  Peter  Wolford, 
Curtis  H.  Pettit,  John  G.  McFarlane,  Noah  Walker, 
John  Walker,  William  P.  Ankeny,  Collins  Hamer, 
Rockey,  McLain,  A.  C.  Taylor,  J.  K.  Sidle,  J.  J.  Linn, 
Misses  Alice  Williams,  Louise  C.  Wilson,  Eliza  Gow- 
dy,  Etta  Wolford,  Etta  Ege,  Hannah  Mullin,  and 
Maggie  Mullin. 

Mrs.  J.  J,  Linn  was  elected  president  (I  suppose  on 
the  principle  of  ward  politics,  that  the  suggestor  is 
made  chairman),  Mrs.  J.  K.  Sidle,  vice  president;  Mrs. 
A.  C.  Taylor,  secretary,  and  Miss  Etta  Wolford,  treas- 
urer. At  the  fortnightly  meetings  each  of  the  twenty- 
three  members  paid  a  dime.     This  counted  something 


225 

in  a  month  and  was  used  to  provide  material  for  work. 
Please  remember,  that  this  was  a  day  of  small  things. 
The  ladies  came  early  in  the  afternoon  and  sewed.  Two 
old  ladies,  Mrs.  Oliver  and  Mrs.  Rockey,  brought  their 
knitting.  A  plain  but  acceptable  supper  was  served, 
as  all  were  excellent  housekeepers.  There  were  stipu- 
lations in  regard  to  these  suppers,  so  that  it  might  be 
burdensome  to  no  one,  only  one  meat  and  one  kind 
of  cake  being  permitted.  There  was  never  a  lack  of 
entertainment  or  houses  open  to  us.  Gentlemen  were 
invited  in  the  evenings  and  acted  as  escorts,  as  we  had 
no  street  cars,  no  lighted  streets  or  even  gas  in  the 
houses.  The  society  was  not  a  great  success  finan- 
cially; but,  when  our  little  Church,  on  Fourth  Street 
was  finished,  in  the  spring  of  1861,  we  furnished  car- 
pet for  the  aisles  and  pulpit  steps  and  platform,  window 
shades,  lamps  and  chairs. 

There  were  no  wealthy  people  among  us,  and  no 
poor.  All  seemed  in  easy,  comfortable  circumstances; 
according  to  the  standard  of  the  times. 

Socially,  and  in  keeping  the  people  together,  the  so- 
ciety was  a  decided  success,  for,  when,  as  the  months 
passed  into  Winter,  Mr,  Hughes'  affliction  increased  so 
that  he  could  not  hear  his  own  voice  and,  of  course 
could  not  control  it,  he  returned  to  his  old  home.  For 
a  time  we  had  different  supplies  or  half  the  time  of  the 
St.  Anthony  Minister. 

The  Winter  of  1860  and  1861  brought  us  a  share  of 


226 

the  troublous  times  leading  to  the  Civil  War,  which  no 
one  escaped  entirely.  Our  Church  wisely  abstained 
from  any  radical  action  and,  though  there  was  diver- 
sity of  views,  there  were  no  disputations. 

We  had,  always,  strong  countenance  and  support 
from  the  gentlemen  of  the  congregation,  particularly 
Messrs.  W.  W.  McNair,  Eugene  M.  Wilson,  John  I. 
Black,  Noah  and  John  Walker,  all  of  Presbyterian 
families  and  training,  and  interested  in  our  work  and 
ready  to  assist.  They  were  always  in  the  right  place 
at  the  right  time.  Gifted  with  wit  and  humor,  with 
some  happy  temperaments  among  the  ladies,  they  made 
tha  evenings  interesting  and  so  called  amusements 
were  not  even  suggested. 

The  second  Winter,  our  gatherings  were  so  popular 
that  our  rooms  were  always  filled ;  even  outsiders  com- 
ing, bringing  their  friends  and  visitors. 

Of  the  workers  who  were  such  an  influence  in  the 
early  sixties,  were  Mrs.  Louis  H.  Williams  and  Mrs. 
Joseph  C.  Williams,  whose  beautiful  lives  shone  upon 
their  good  works,  and  who  by  their  cheerful  consistent 
piety  and  kindly  affectionate  manners,  were  a  blessing 
to  all  who  knew  them.  Mrs.  J.  K.  Sidle  was  one  of 
our  best  workers  in  every  way,  accomplishing  much 
in  the  building  up  of  the  society  and  Church.  She 
loved  Westminster,  and  constantly  attended  the  ser- 
vices; and  only  three  years  ago  she  fell  asleep,  while 
her  daughter  was  reading  to  her  from  her  Bible.     Mrs. 


227 

J.  G.  McFarlane,  with  her  warm  heart  and  open  hand, 
was  a  valuable  member.  Mrs.  A.  C,  Morgan  did  her 
first  church  work  in  Minneapolis  at  this  time.  Her 
true  Christian  character  and  marvelous  tact  are  beyond 
any  words  of  praise,  and  her  works  do  follow  her.  Her 
memory  is  fresh  in  the  hearts  of  Westminster  today. 
Mr.  William  P.  Ankeny  was  another  of  those  inter- 
ested and  helpful.  Always  genial  and  agreeable,  he 
filled  in  many  places.  He  and  Mrs.  Ankeny,  famous 
at  all  times  for  their  hospitality,  had,  ever,  open  doors 
for  all  Church  gatherings.  Mrs.  Deborah  M.  Pettit, 
Miss  Alice  Williams  (now  Mrs.  Frederick  Chalmers), 
Miss  Louise  Wilson  (now  Mrs.  W.  W.  McNair),  Miss 
Eliza  Gowdy  (now  Mrs.  James  Chalmers),  Miss  Etta 
Ege  (now  Mrs.  Burd),  and  Miss  Maggie  Mullin  (now 
Mrs.  McCaslin),  are  still  with  us  to  see  the  amazing 
results  from  such  small  beginning. 

Deacon  Andrew  W.  Oliver,  the  first  ruling  elder  of 
Westminster,  and  his  wife,  whose  home,  in  the  country 
was  at  what  is  now  14th  Street  and  Portland  Avenue, 
rode  in  to  Church  in  a  comfortable  rockaway  drawn 
by  a  handsome  pair  of  mules.  These  historic  mules 
were  always  at  the  service  of  the  church  people,  being 
used  in  the  summer  for  Sunday  School  picnics,  and  in 
the  winter,  the  rockaway  was  exchanged  for  a  long 
sled,  which  carried  the  older  people  of  the  congrega- 
tion, through  the  deep  snow,  to  Church,  afterwards 
gathering  the  children  for  Sabbath  School.     These  use- 


228 

ful  creatures  never  flinched  from  what  was  required 
of  them;  until  (well,  if  it  were  in  this  time,  I  should 
say,  the  patient  mules  had  a  mind  to  strike),  in  a 
sportive  mood,  one  day,  they  ran  under  the  branches  of 
a  tree  and  wrecked  the  top  from  the  carriage.  There- 
after, this  cheerful  old  couple  rode  under  an  umbrella. 
Nevertheless,  these  mules  must  go  on  record,  with  oth- 
er faithful  workers. 

I  think  the  society  died  a  natural  death,  soon  after 
the  furnishing  of  the  Church.  By  that  time  all  were 
workers,  as  in  the  rebuilding  the  walls  of  Jerusalem, 
each  man  and  woman  doing  the  work  that  came  to 
his  hand.  But  in  its  life  it  did  its  work  in  time  of  need 
and  created  a  spirit  that  remained,  when  the  society 
was  forgotten.  Friendships  were  formed  that  lasted 
throughout  lifetime. 

When  our  first  pastor,  Rev.  Robert  Strong,  came  to 
us  in  October,  1861,  he  found  a  united  and  harmonious 
membership ;  earnest  workers,  who  withheld  not  their 
hands  from  any  good  cause;  steadily  growing  and 
strengthening  as  the  years  passed. 

Westminster  Church  was  finished  and  occupied 
April,  1861;  Mr.  Strong  came  the  following  October; 
his  pastorate  lasting  until  April,  1864.  Mr.  Condit  suc- 
ceeded him,  remaining  until  1867,  and  during  that 
time  the  church  building  was  twice  enlarged,  and  had 
a  membership  of  three  hundred. 

Another  name  of  an  early  member,  should  be  remem- 


229 

bered  at  this  time.  Mrs.  Mary  Stongh  united  with  this 
Church  October  23rd,  1858,  and  continued  a  member 
until  her  death,  April  6th,  1905.  Her  residence  was  so 
far  out  of  town,  that  it  was  not  possible  for  her  to  be 
active  in  Church  work  and  societies  in  those  early- 
years,  and  hence  she  has  not  been  mentioned  in  that 
connection.  By  her  long  and  consistent  Christian  life 
and  her  constant  attendance  upon  the  services  of  the 
Church,  for  many  years  prior  to  her  decease,  she  was 
an  inspiration  to  her  pastors  and  to  those  who  were 
privileged  to  know  her  well.  Another  member,  who 
united  at  the  same  time  as  Mrs.  Stough,  was  Mrs. 
Catherine  Hays,  who  is  now  living  in  La  Grange,  In- 
diana, at  the  great  age  of  81  years. 

Mrs.  Godley:  Those  were  stirring  days  in  our  na- 
tion's history,  when  the  first  little  Westminster  Church 
was  erected  on  Fourth  Street.  The  country  was  in  the 
throes  of  civil  war,  and  Minnesota  was  one  of  the 
youngest  of  States.  The  times  were  very  hard,  and 
we  can  never  realize  at  what  sacrifice  and  cost  the 
modest  edifice  with  its  grand  name  was  built.  Per- 
sonally my  recollections  go  back  to  the  first  evening 
service  held  in  the  new  church.  It  was  in  our  imme- 
diate neighborhood,  and  we  found  it  convenient  to  at- 
tend very  often,  though  belonging  to  another  Church 
at  that  time. 

The  ladies  had  worked  early  and  late,  to  have  every- 
thing ready  for  this  first  service.     They  had  laid  the 


230 

-carpet  with  their  own  hands  and,  after  much  stretch- 
ing and  pulling,  had  succeeded  in  having  a  strip  left 
just  long  enough  to  carpet  the  minister's  pew.  This 
achievement  was  considered  a  great  cause  for  con- 
gratulation, as  they  had  not  expected  to  have  any  more 
than  was  actually  needed.  The  furnishings  were  ex- 
tremely simple,  the  heating  apparatus  consisting  of 
two  stoves,  the  lamps  and  the  modest  strip  of  red  in- 
grain carpet,  which  was  laid  down  the  two  aisles,  up- 
on the  pulpit-platform,  and  across  the  front  of  the 
church  only.  A  small  black  hair  cloth  sofa,  with  a 
chair  to  match  on  either  side,  adorned  the  pulpit  plat- 
form, while  just  beneath  was  a  small  table  with  mar- 
ble top  and  two  cane  seat  chairs;  ladies,  here  are  the 
very  identical  chairs,  before  you  upon  the  platform 
(pointing  to  two  chairs  on  the  platform).  We  have 
preserved  them,  all  these  years,  for  this  occasion.  I 
distinctly  remember  how  bright  and  clean  everything 
looked.  The  light  from  the  kerosene  lamps  cast  a 
cheerful  glow  over  the  white  walls  and  freshly  painted 
pews.  The  bright  red  carpet  gave  the  requisite  tint 
of  color,  and  every  one  seemed  radiently  happy  that 
bleak  March  night,  especially  Deacon  Oliver  and  his 
good  wife,  whose  faces  fairly  beamed  with  satisfac- 
tion. I  remember  he  insisted  on  conducting  us  to  the 
very  front  seats,  and,  as  he  was  quite  lame,  it  was  a 
painful  process  to  all  concerned. 

Dear  old   Deacon  Oliver!     Every  one   loved  him. 


231 

Someway  whenever  I  think  of  Westminster  Church  in 
the  early  days,  a  picture  of  this  good  man  with  his 
rosy  face  and  tightly  curling  grey  hair,  driving  the 
historic  mules,  comes  before  me.  Those  mules  were 
always  in  evidence,  when  anything  was  doing  in  West- 
minster, and  were  ready  for  service  in  every  good 
work.  Was  the  day  stormy,  the  Deacon  arose  earlier 
than  usual,  hitched  up  the  mules  to  the  long  sled  and 
went  around  and  gathered  up  almost  the  entire  con- 
gregation. Was  their  a  donation  party  to  be  given  for 
the  minister,  first  the  good  Deacon  would  take  the 
ladies  around  to  do  the  soliciting,  sometirnes  in  a  driv- 
ing snow  storm.  He  was  tall  and  thin  and,  at  the 
close  of  the  expedition,  resembled  an  Alpine  peak 
more  than  the  patient  selfsacrificing  Deacon  that  he 
was.  When  the  festive  evening  arrived,  no  one  wor- 
ried about  a  carriage,  however  unpropitious  the  weath- 
er, for  every  one  knew  the  faithful  Deacon  with  his 
equally  faithful  mules  would  surely  be  on  hand.  Every 
one  worked  for  love  in  those  days,  and  I  must  speak 
of  the  faithful  service  of  the  two  young  boys,  Joshua 
and  Samuel  Williams,  who  conjointly  acted  as  jani- 
tors in  the  little  church. 

They  were  always  diligent  and  conscientious  in  the 
performance  of  their  duties,  the  transparent  condition 
of  the  lamp  chimneys  bearing  silent  testimony  to  this. 
Some  amusing  incidents  occurred  in  Church  in  the 
older  days.     I  have  often  heard  the  story  of  the  old 


232 

gentleman,  who  was  in  the  habit  of  gathering  the  eggs 
before  he  came  to  Church  and  putting  them  under  the 
lining  of  his  hat.  On  one  occasion  he  forgot  to  re- 
move them,  and,  on  entering  the  church  and  reverently 
taking  off  his  hat,  the  eggs  fell  to  the  floor,  to  his  great 
mortification,  but  to  the  amusement  of  the  spectators. 

It  was  quite  a  formidable  undertaking  to  go  before 
the  Session  for  admission  to  church  membership  in 
those  days,  and,  unless  one  knew  his  catachism  thor- 
oughly, he  was  sure  to  be  brought  to  confusion  of  face. 
Even  our  stout  hearted  Joshua  quailed  before  the 
dreaded  ordeal  and,  it  is  said,  walked  up  and  down  for 
an  hour,  trying  to  muster  up  sufficient  courage  to  go 
before  that  august  body,  and  then  ignominiously  fled 
for  home,  deciding  to  wait  for  a  more  convenient  sea- 
son. It  was  a  very  animating  scene  at  the  church, 
when  the  ladies  turned  out  en  masse,  armed  with 
brooms,  pails  and  scrub  brushes,  for  the  annual 
spring  cleaning.  A  man  was  allowed  to  beat  the  car- 
pet, under  the  supervision  of  a  good  sister  for  fear  he 
would  whack  it  all  to  pieces,  but  all  the  rest  of  the 
work  the  ladies  did  themselves.  They  brought  their 
lunches  and  stayed  all  day,  each  lady  first  cleaning  her 
own  pew  and  then  taking  a  part  in  the  general  clean- 
ing. Those  who  kept  maids  were  expected  to  bring 
them  along,  to  aid  in  the  good  work. 

In  one  instance  this  involved  a  case  of  conscience. 
One  maid,  who  was  a  staunch  Roman  Catholic,  on  be- 


William   M.  Tenney, 
Elder   1884-1899.      Sabbath  School  Superintendent   1882-1899 


233 

ing  asked  to  accompany  her  mistress  and  lend  a  hand, 
indignantly  refused  to  have  anything  to  do  with  clean- 
ing a  heretic  church,  and,  as  the  lady  insisted,  she  left 
her  service  forthwith,  feeling  no  doubt  that  she  was 
suffering  for  righteousness  sake. 

Every  one  worked  with  a  will,  and,  by  nightfall,  their 
labor  of  love  was  completed.  The  stoves  were  black- 
ened, the  carpet  laid  and  the  windows  and  paint  fairly 
shone. 

No  compressed  air  cleaners  were  needed  in  those 
days  by  our  mothers;  and  I  am  sure  much  better  re- 
sults were  obtained. 

When  the  first  pastor,  Rev.  Robert  Strong,  was  set- 
tled he  became  a  member  of  our  family  and  we  be- 
came more  intimately  associated  with  the  Church. 
This  was  in  war  times,  and,  as  there  were  a  good  many 
Southerners  in  the  Church,  Mr.  Strong  was  very  anx- 
ious that  no  one  should  suspect  any  of  his  members 
of  disloyalty,  and  urged  the  ladies  to  always  attend 
the  meetings  of  the  Soldiers'  Aid  Society,  then  in 
vogue,  and  work  for  the  relief  of  the  soldiers.  So  our 
Virginia  and  Missouri  ladies  industriously  scraped  lint 
and  rolled  bandages,  side  by  side  with  their  sisters  of 
northern  birth,  and  all  criticism  was  silenced. 

Some  of  Mr.  Strong's  parishioners  resided  in  Rich- 
field, and,  in  the  summertime,  as  he  kept  a  horse,  he 
was  often  invited  out  there  to  take  tea  and  spend  the 


234 

evening.    He  was  quite  dignified,  as  became  a  yoting 
minister;  and  I  was  quite  in  awe  of  him. 

I  remember  how  horrified  I  was,  on  one  of  these  fes- 
tive occasions,  to  hear  my  mother  ask  him  to  take  a 
stray  cat,  which  had  lately  established  herself  on  our 
premises,  along  with  him  and  leave  it  near  some  farm 
house  in  the  country.  To  my  surprise  he  very  oblig- 
ingly consented,  and  drove  off  with  the  cat  securely 
tied  in  a  bag,  amid  the  profuse  thanks  of  the  family. 
It  was  the  old  story;  the  cat  came  back,  some  time 
before  he  did,  and  was  sitting  on  the  front  steps  wait- 
ing to  welcome  him.  When  he  returned,  mother  si- 
lently pointed  to  the  cat.  As  he  was  very  near  sighted 
he  stopped  to  examine  the  object,  and,  when  he  recog- 
nized that  cat,  his  amazement  was  amusing  to  witness. 
As  he  was  not  familiar  with  their  usual  propensities, 
he  could  hardly  believe  it  possible,  and  gasped  out 
"Well  1  Well  1  That  is  the  most  astonishing  thing  I  ever 
heard  of." 

It  was  during  Mr.  Strong's  ministry  that  the  first 
choir  was  organized  by  Miss  Mary  Charles.  She  was 
a  fine  musician  and  was  also  the  first  organist.  She 
had  been  teaching  school  at  the  Yellow  Medicine  In- 
dian Agency,  when  the  massacre  there  occurred,  ajid, 
after  the  most  thrilling  adventures,  she  with  several 
others  were  rescued  by  a  friendly  Indian.  By  her 
courage  and  good  sense,  she  had  saved  the  lives  of  an 
army  officer   and   the   family,    in   which    she   taught. 


235 

After  wandering  for  many  days  through  a  trackless 
forest,  with  her  shoes  and  clothing  in  tatters,  she  final- 
ly reached  her  friends  in  Minneapolis,  who  had  mourn- 
ed her  as  one  dead.  She  was  one  of  the  most  active 
and  efficient  members,  that  Westminster  Church  was 
blessed  with,  and  devoted  herself  untiringly  to  its  in- 
terests. 

Mr.  Hiram  Wagner  was  the  first  leader  and  sang 
the  tenor.  The  Misses  Charles,  Williams  and  Emmet 
were  the  sopranos.  Miss  Eliza  Varney,  who  had  a 
wonderfully  sweet  voice  was  the  contralto.  Her  voice 
would  have  made  her  fortune,  had  she  so  chosen,  and 
she  had  a  charming  personality.  Mr.  Joshua  Wil- 
liams sang  bass.  He  also  had  an  exceptionally  good 
voice.  Other  members  were  added  later,  Mrs.  North- 
way  and  the  Misses  Henderson;  but  these  were  the 
first  as  I  recollect  them. 

We  had  hoped  to  have  had  our  first  organist,  Miss 
Charles  (now  Mrs.  Graham  of  Owatonna)  present  with 
us  today,  but,  to  our  great  regret,  she  was  unable  to 
come.  We  had  also  fully  expected  to  have  had  on 
exhibition  today  the  first  melodeon,  that  discoursed 
sweet  music  within  the  walls  of  Westminster.  It  was 
about  the  size  of  a  sewing  machine  and  the  color  was 
yellow.  We  had  treasured  it  all  these  years  and  had 
seen  it  safely  housed  under  this  roof,  after  the  Seventh 
Street  Church  was  burned.  But,  after  a  most  diligent 
but  unavailing  search,  to  which  Japhet  in  search  of  a 


236 

father  was  not  to  be  compared,  we  learned  that  some 
time  ago  our  generous  Session  had  given  away  several 
outgrown  instruments  to  new  Sunday  Schools  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  state,  and,  not  knowing  its  his- 
toric value,  the  little  melodeon  was  included  in  the 
number.  Of  what  use  it  could  be  to  any  one  is  a  mys- 
tery, for  it  could  only  wheeze  a  little  twenty  years  ago. 
But  it  was  precious  in  our  sight,  and  we  mourn  its  loss. 

It  was  quite  an  event,  during  the  ministry  of  Mr. 
Condit,  when  he  received  a  visit  from  his  father,  Dr. 
Condit,  and  his  sister,  of  New  York.  They  were  great- 
ly interested  in  the  little  church  and  the  people,  but 
they  didn't  quite  seem  to  like  our  black  hair-cloth  sofa 
and  chairs  in  the  pulpit — indeed  they  distressed  Miss 
Condit  so  much,  that,  on  her  return  home,  she  sent  us 
as  a  gift  from  herself  three  grand  orthodox  pulpit 
chairs,  which  I  think  are  now  in  the  Fifth  Church. 

It  was  during  Mr.  Condit's  ministry,  that  I  united 
with  the  Church  and  became  a  member  of  the  choir. 
They  occupied  seats  in  the  rear  of  the  Church  be- 
tween the  two  doors ;  and  I  remember  how  very  con- 
venient it  was  to  slip  out  occasionally,  run  home  to 
see  if  everything  was  going  on  all  right  and  be  back 
again  in  my  place  in  a  few  minutes. 

There  was  quite  a  chorus  at  that  time,  all  young  peo- 
ple, and  I  am  afraid  we  were  not  always  as  reverent 
as  we  should  have  been.  The  young  men  used  to  bring 
peppermint  and  wintergreen  lozenges,  and  pass  them 


237 

around  for  us  to  eat  during  the  sermon.  I  never  shall 
forget  what  an  agonizing  time  we  had  one  Sunday, 
when  a  young  man  passed  around  something  entire- 
ly new;  we  had  never  seen  anything  like  them  before 
and  of  course  were  quite  delighted.  They  were  marsh- 
mallows,  about  the  size  of  a  small  biscuit,  very  old  and 
very  tough.  It  was  just  before  the  close  of  the  ser- 
mon, and  we  soon  realized  that  the  new  confection 
would  never  be  disposed  of  before  the  last  hymn  was 
announced.  Such  facial  contortions  and  gymnastics, 
as  we  poor  struggling  mortals  went  through  with,  were 
never  before  witnessed.  We  were  obliged  to  put  our 
heads  down  for  fear  the  minister  would  see  us,  all  ex- 
cept the  young  man  who  brought  them.  He  had  not 
indulged,  and  was  enjoying  the  situation  immensely. 
The  pastor  must  have  wondered  what  had  caused  the 
choir  to  be  in  such  a  devotional  frame  of  mind  that 
day;  but  we  never  told  him.  If  the  closing  hymn  was 
not  rendered  as  clearly  and  distinctly  as  usual,  you 
know  the  reason  why.  Some  had  suspicions,  however, 
that  there  was  something  unusual  going  on  and  soon 
after  this  episode,  it  was  thought  best  to  have  a  quar- 
tet choir  and  have  them  sit  in  front.  The  choir  was 
then  composed  of  Mrs.  Charles  Smith,  Soprano;  Mrs. 
Charles  Godley,  contralto ;  Mr.  Hiram  Wagner,  tenor ; 
and  Joshua  Williams,  basso.  I  remember  it  was  quite 
an  ordeal  to  have  to  sit  up  so  stiff  and  prim,  in  full 
view  of  the  congregation,  after  the  free  and  easy  dis- 


238 

pensation  of  former  years.  But  these  reminiscences, 
cannot  like  Tennyson's  Brook,  "go  on  forever."  As 
my  time  is  exhausted  and  your  patience  also,  they  will 
have  to  be  continued  at  our  Centennial  Jubilee. 

I  have  now  the  pleasant  duty  to  perform  of  present- 
ing the  first  members  of  this  Church  to  you.  We  have 
with  us  today  a  remnant  of  that  little  band  who,  in 
the  early  days,  constituted  Westminster  Church.  We 
want  you  all  to  know  them  and  take  off  your  hats  (fig- 
uratively speaking),  in  the  future,  when  you  meet 
them.  They  are  all  ver}^  modest  and  it  was  with  the 
utmost  difficulty,  that  we  persuaded  them  to  occupy 
these  prominent  seats.  We  have  upon  the  platform 
today  seven  ladies,  who  were  members  of  Westmin- 
ster Church  in  the  year  1860,  and  we  delight  to  honor 
them. 

First,  our  only  charter  member  Mrs.  Deborah  M. 
Pettit,  daughter  of  Capt.  L.  H.  Williams,  founder  of 
this  Church.  We  give  her  the  place  of  honor.  We 
wish  that  more  of  that  little  band  of  charter  members 
had  been  spared  to  celebrate  this  day  with  us,  but  we 
rejoice  that  we  have  even  one,  and  such  a  worthy,  rep- 
resentative ;  and,  in  connection  with  Mrs.  Pettit,  I  can- 
not refrain  from  mentioning  the  name  of  one,  who 
had  looked  forward  with  joyous  anticipation  to  this 
glad  jubilee  day,  who  would  have  stood  by  the  side  of 
Mrs.  Pettit,  as  our  next  oldest  member,  one  whose 
life  had  been  entwined  with  the  history  of  this  Church 


239 

from  its  earliest  beginning.  I  refer  to  Mrs.  A.  C.  Mor- 
gan, a  devoted  and  dearly  loved  member  of  this 
Church  for  nearly  fifty  years.  We  miss  her  sweet 
presence  here  today. 

Next  I  want  to  present  to  you  Mrs.  Frederick  Chal- 
mers, a  member  of  the  first  choir,  Mrs.  McFarlane  and 
Mrs.  Eliza  Chalmers.  These  three  ladies  were  here  at 
the  time  of  the  organization  of  this  Church,  and  we 
regret,  with  them,  that  they  missed  the  opportunity  of 
their  lives,  in  not  becoming  members  of  grand  old 
Westminster  that  day. 

Then  I  want  you  all  to  know  Mrs.  Dr.  Linn,  the  pres- 
ident of  the  first  Women's  Society,  organized  in  1859, 
whose  valuable  and  interesting  paper  you  have  enjoy- 
ed today.  Mrs.  Burd  and  Mrs.  Ankeny  I  think  you  all 
know.  Mrs.  Ankeny  is  the  youngest  member  in  the 
group.  These  ladies  were  all  earnest  and  devoted 
workers  in  the  olden  days ;  and  their  hospitable  homes 
were  ever  open,  both  for  the  entertainment  of  minis- 
ters and  for  the  use  of  the  congregation. 

Last,  we  wish  to  introduce  another  member  of  the 
first  choir,  Mrs.  Hiram  Wagner.  We  will  promise  not 
to  ask  her  for  a  solo,  though  her  friends  greatly  de- 
sire it  and  we  have  no  doubt  she  could  render  one  ef- 
fectively, if  she  only  felt  so  inclined.  We  delight  to 
greet  this  band  of  the  pioneer  women  of  our  Church. 
Shall  we  not  all  salute  them.  (The  congregation  arose 
and  gave  them  the  Chautauqua  salute). 


240 

Now  if  we  only  had  that  little  old  yellow  melodeon 
we  would  make  "Auld  Lang  Syne"  ring,  but  we  will 
have  to  do  the  best  we  can  with  the  organ.  Shall  we 
not  rise  and  sing  one  verse  of  "Auld  Lang  Syne,"  re- 
peating the  chorus? 

In  response  to  this  invitation  the  congregation  sung 
heartily  the  first  verse  of  "Auld  Lang  Syne." 

Without  special  introduction  of  the  presiding  officer, 
the  ladies,  assigned  thereto  before  hand,  presented  the 
history  and  work  of  the  missionary  organizations  of 
the  Church. 

For  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  Mrs. 
E.  S.  Williams  said: 

There  is  one  little  forlorn  reminiscense,  that  has 
escaped  Mrs.  Godley's  eagle  eye.  Mrs.  Morgan  used 
to  tell  it  with  great  glee.  It  was  when  we  were  young 
and  ignorant.  The  Church  was  in  need  of  new  hymn 
books,  and  made  a  request  for  the  requisite  amount 
from  the  Treasurer  of  our  Foreign  Missionary  Society ; 
and  the  precious  funds,  sacredly  pledged  to  foreign 
missions,  were  meekly  handed  over  to  buy  the  hymn 
books. 

Dear  Mrs.  Morgan  1  who  looked  forward  with  so 
much  interest  to  this  Jubilee,  to  whose  absence  we 
cannot  grow  accustomed,  and  who  towered  above  all 
others  in  her  years  of  glorious  service ! 

It  is  difficult  to  record  the  work  of  years  with  a  few 
pen   strokes.     Our   Society   was   organized   thirty-six 


241 

years  ago,  February  6,  1871,  by  Dr.  Sample,  and  our 
first  missionary  was  Miss  Downing  of  Chefoo,  China, 
to  whom  we  pledged  the  munificent  sum  of  $75.00  a 
year. 

We  veterans  often  make  merry  over  some  of  the 
means,  resorted  to  in  those  days  to  raise  our  money, 
such  as  fairs,  suppers  and  such  like,  and  I  suppose  the 
only  thing  that  saved  us  from  rummage  sales  was  the 
fact  that  they  were  unknown. 

With  increased  prosperity,  we  increased  our  gifts 
and  we  improved  in  graces,  too.  When  we  began, 
there  was  scarcely  a  woman  who  dared  raise  her  voice 
in  prayer ;  but  we  gained  an  enlarged  perception  of  our 
work;  and,  as  it  unfolded  itself  in  all  of  its  grandeur, 
we,  in  a  measure,  lost  sight  of  self,  and  we  have  thank- 
ed God  that  through  His  grace,  we  have  not  with- 
held our  hands  from  this  work,  until  self  was  entirely 
conquered. 

"So  circled  lives  she  in  love's  holy  light 
That  from  the  shade  of  self  she  walketh  free." 

And  we  have  not  been  afraid  of  a  little  enthusiasm, 
and  by  reason  of  it  have  occasionally  heard  such  re- 
marks as  these :  "Oh  yes,  she's  a  nice  woman,  but  she 
is  a  little  peculiar."  "I  hope  I  shall  never  be  thrown 
off  my  balance  in  that  way."  "A  peculiar  people." 
We  like  the  name. 

What  sweetness  is  to  the  rose ;  what  music  is  to  the 
musican;  what  oil  is  to  machinery;  that  enthusiasm 


242 

has  been  to  us  through  all  these  years  of  missionary 
service. 

Someone  has  quaintly  said,  "Of  all  the  light  you  car- 
ry in  your  face,  joy  will  reach  farthest  out  to  sea."  So, 
in  this  joy  of  the  Lord,  through  our  representatives,  we 
have  crossed  the  seas  and  brought  the  Gospel  "near  to 
the  peoples  in  all  lands." 

That  first  interest  in  China  culminated  in  1887,  when 
$2,500  was  raised,  over  and  above  our  regular  pledges, 
for  the  Mateer  Memorial  Hospital,  in  Wei  Hein,  Shan- 
tung, a  well  equipped  institution,  where  daily  aid  is 
given  to  Christ's  suffering  ones,  and  the  word  of  God 
is  added  to  the  physician's  prescription.  Mrs.  Mateer 
was  Miss  Archibald,  who  went  out  from  this  Church 
in  1881,  expecting  to  go  to  Siam.  But,  meeting  Mr. 
Mateer  on  the  steamer,  the  usual  result  followed,  and 
she  became  Mrs.  Mateer  and  went  to  her  brief,  but  sa- 
cred ministry  in  China. 

Later  Dr.  Madge  Dickson  Mateer  went  to  that  same 
hospital,  and  with  tender,  tireless  ministering,  in  the 
name  of  Christ,  linked  us  to  the  great  aggregation  of 
human  suffering,  and  need,  and  hopelessness,  amid 
China's  millions. 

Any  mention  of  that  hospital  would  be  incomplete 
without  speaking  of  the  faithful  work  of  Dr.  W.  R. 
Faries,  one  of  the  beloved  members  of  this  Church, 
who  has  given  the  best  years  of  his  life  to  the  suffering 
ones  there. 


243 

That  name  recalls  the  mother — our  first  President, 
Mrs.  I.  C.  Faries,  "whose  children  rise  up  and  call  her 
blessed" — and  whose  wholesome  wisdom,  reverent 
prayers,  and  generous  gifts,  helped  to  build  our  mis- 
sionary walls. 

This  hospital  was  made  possibly  by  the  generous  be- 
quest of  Mrs.  M.  M.  Harris,  of  whom  it  may  be  said, 
"Being  dead  she  yet  speaketh,"  in  her  yearly  legacy 
to  this  work. 

We  rejoice  that  the  Chinese  class  of  our  Sunday 
School  gives  yearly  to  the  support  of  a  bed  in  Monroe 
Pavillion  connected  with  the  hospital.  We  think,  too, 
of  Miss  Richardson,  who  went  out  from  us  as  Mrs. 
Ritchie;  and,  after  Mr.  Ritchie's  death,  married  Mr. 
Lingle,  and  is  now  doing  splendid  work  in  one  of  the 
interior  provinces,  as  our  Synodical  Missionary. 

Through  Miss  Medbury,  we  have  been  drawn  into 
close  personal  touch  with  the  educational  work  in  Per- 
sia. She  is  identified  with  Fisk  Seminary  in  Urumiah, 
which  bears  a  glorious  name  and  has  a  blessed  record 
of  young  women  going  out  to  be  centers  of  light  hence- 
forth, wherever  their  lot  is  cast. 

There  is  no  sweeter  gospel  preached  today  than 
among  the  forests  of  Africa.  On  the  African  coast  we 
have  been  linked  for  thirty-three  years  with  Frank 
Myongo,  a  dark-skinned  native  brother  and  pastor. 
Step  by  step,  through  the  years,  those,  who  adopted 
him  when  but  a  bov  in  Miss  Nassau's  school,  have 


244 

watched  over  his  course,  rejoicing  first  over  his  con- 
version then  over  his  entire  consecration  to  the  work 
of  the  Gospel,  and  later  over  his  faithful  and  effective 
work  among  his  people. 

We  remember,  too,  Mrs.  Graham  Campbell,  towards 
whose  outfit  we  joyfully  labored,  when  she  went  out  as 
a  bride  to  that  dark  land.  The  climate  proved  too 
much  for  her,  but  she  is  now  doing  valiant  service  in 
the  home  land. 

We  can  never  forget  Mrs.  William  M.  Tenney, 
whose  very  soul  was  poured  as  a  treasure  into  this 
work;  shrinking  from  publicity,  nevertheless  her 
Christ-like  zeal  consumed  all  fear,  and  enabled  her 
nobly  to  fill  her  place  as  our  President  for  years.  Her 
ideal  was  an  empty  heart  and  purse;  and,  again  and 
again,  she  gave  the  prayer  of  the  one  and  the  contents 
of  the  other. 

Miss  Bissell  went  out  from  this  Church  to  Siam  in 
1899,  in  her  early  strength  and  zeal,  to  be  connected 
with  Miss  Cole  in  the  Girl's  School  in  Wang  Lang; 
and,  after  eight  years  of  continuous  service,  it  was  the 
too  common  story  of  failing  health,  and  she  came  home 
to  die.  Nature  gave  her  refinement,  gentleness  and 
amiability  in  an  unusual  degree,  and  to  these  the  gift 
of  grace  was  superadded.  Her  brief  and  beautiful 
life  was  quickly  ended.  What  its  influence  shall  be 
over  the  young  womanhood  of  that  far  off  country, 


245 

only  eternity  will  reveal.  We  think  lovingly  of  Mrs, 
S.  P.  Farrington  in  connection  with  Miss  Bissel. 

Our  latest  interest  centers  in  a  little  home  in  Tripoli, 
Syria,  were  a  Christian  home  has  been  started  by  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Nicol.  Mrs.  Nicol  is  our  Presbyterial  Mis- 
sionary. 

We  have  raised  $29,467.86.  Behind  these  figures 
looms  our  dear  faithful  Mrs.  E.  E.  Whitmore  and  her 
loyal  successor,  Mrs.  B.  W.  Smith.  Could  some  winged 
spirit  with  supernatural  comprehension  and  vision 
have  attended  each  dollar  of  this  amount  in  its  path 
of  light,  on  its  errand  of  mercy  to  the  farthest  corner 
of  this  earth  of  ours,  and  then  been  gifted  with  an- 
gelic speech,  what  a  story  might  he  not  have  told. 
A  story  in  many  volumes  and  in  many  languages;  of 
cheer  to  desponding  hearts;  of  hope  to  the  despairing; 
of  knowledge  to  the  ignorant;  and  of  Christ  the 
Savior  to  the  guilty,  and  the  lost.  During  these  years 
there  has  been  a  constant  broadening  of  our  work. 
When  we  entered  upon  it,  there  seemed  to  be  but  one 
simple  object,  "to  go  and  to  preach  the  Gospel,  to  tell 
the  old,  old  story."  But  another  utterance  fell  from 
Christ's  lips — an  utterance  comprehending  in  its  sweep 
all  the  achievements  and  all  the  blessings  of  the  high- 
est Christian  civilization,  "teaching  them  to  observe  all 
things  whatsoever  I  command  you." 

"Teaching  them  to  observe  all  things,"  was  seen  also 
to  mean,  "Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto  Me,"  and 


246 

in  all  mission  fields,  in  which  we  are  interested,  the 
blessed  kindergarten  has  become  one  of  our  forms  of 
service,  winning  a  way  as  no  other  ministry  might  do, 
to  the  hearts  of  parents  through  their  little  ones,  taken 
into  the  joyful  atmosphere  of  Christian  childhood. 

As  this  larger  aim  was  revealed  to  us,  we  enlarged  our 
work,  communicating  to  those,  gathered  back  to  Him, 
all  those  rich  results  of  His  mission  to  this  earth,  which 
make  our  own  lives  glad;  the  home,  the  Church,  the 
school,  the  hospital,  all  the  innumerable  and  constant- 
ly increasing,  unspeakable  benefits  and  privileges, 
which  come  to  us  through  Christ  our  Lord. 

So,  like  jewels,  all  the  long  way  have  flashed  the 
stories  of  Christ's  unchanging  love  and  faithfulness, 
His  power  to  save  and  change  and  lift  up  the  lowest. 

Mrs,  E.  S.  Pomeroy,  for  the  Woman's  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society,  spoke  as  follows: 

Mrs.  F.  E.  H.  Haines,  appointed  by  General  Assem- 
bly and  the  Home  Board  of  New  York,  visited  Minne- 
apolis in  1880  and  again  in  1881,  urging  Westminster 
ladies  to  organize  for  gospel  work,  in  our  own  land.  A 
committee  was  chosen,  consisting  of  Mrs.  M.  M.  Har- 
ris, and  Mrs.  A.  C.  Morgan,  to  secure  officers.  We 
started  out  with  Dr.  Sample's  prayers  and  benediction 
upon  us,  and  all  the  years  of  his  life  they  followed  us. 
As  the  years  passed  on,  this  society  grew  in  numbers, 
and  offerings  for  the  work  increased  each  year. 

Our  first  work  was  for  the  salary  of  Rev.  D.  J.  Mc- 


247 

Millan,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Utah,  one  of  the  pioneer  workers 
in  that  hard  field.  In  later  years,  he  became  one  of  the 
secretaries  of  the  Home  Board.  In  1887,  a  precious 
legacy  came  to  us,  from  Mrs.  M.  M.  Harris.  This  was 
given  to  the  work  of  founding  a  hospital,  in  Sitka,  Alas- 
ka. Our  yearly  offerings  are  still  given  to  carrying  on 
this  work. 

In  1900,  Dr.  Shulean  of  this  Church  went  to  that 
field,  as  medical  missionary,  and  remained  until  called 
home  by  illness  of  her  aged  father. 

Investments  for  buildings  among  the  Mexicans,  for 
homes  among  the  mountaineers,  also  for  our  own  Good 
Will  Mission,  have  been  willingly  sent  in  the  time  of 
need,  at  the  call  from  the  Board  in  New  York.  It  has 
been  our  joy  to  send  many  fur  coats  and  also  fur  robes, 
sometimes  even  investing  in  horses,  for  our  Home 
Missionaries,  whose  toilsome  Sabbath  day  journeys, 
have  been  made  much  easier  through  this  help. 

In  early  days  we  learned  to  respond  to  the  call  of 
Dr.  Adams,  our  Synodical  Missionary,  if  it  were  pos- 
sible, being  always  assured  that  his  call  upon  us, 
whether  for  Pastor  or  for  Pastor's  wife,  was  a  worthy 
one. 

At  the  celebration  of  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of 
the  Woman's  Home  Board,  we  far  exceeded  the  quota 
assigned  to  us  for  the  erection  of  the  Mary  E.  James 
School  for  boys,  at  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  named  for 
the  honored  President  of  the  Woman's  Home  Board, 


248 

Mrs.  Darwin  R.  James  of  New  York,  which  will  open 
to  receive  Mexican  boys  and  young  men  this  month. 
Good  Will  Mission  among  the  Dakotas  has  always 
been  a  special  care  of  our  societ5^ 

Several  years  ago  nearly  forty  young  men  and 
maidens  from  this  mission  were  our  guests  for  more 
than  a  week.  Guided  by  their  efficient  teachers,  they 
were  an  honor  to  themselves,  and  to  us,  and  a  marvel 
to  all,  who  have  no  faith  in  the  well  doing  of  the  red 
man.  A  vacant  store  on  Nicollet  Avenue  had  been 
rented  for  their  temporary  abiding  place,  cots  provided, 
tables  spread  with  dishes.  Provisions  were  abundant- 
ly supplied  by  relays  of  faithful  Marthas.  When  one 
good  woman  appeared  bringing  hot  steak,  corn  bread 
and  coffee  for  breakfast,  a  dusky  lad,  said  "it  was  like 
the  Manna  for  the  children  of  Israel  and  lots  better." 

How  they  did  eat  that  week!  At  our  .Thursday 
prayer  meeting,  they  were  given  special  seats  of  honor. 
As  they  joined  most  heartily  in  singing,  our  Pastor 
asked  the  congregation  to  rest,  and  give  our  guests  the 
right  of  way.  They  were  as  earnest  in  singing,  as  in 
eating.  When  our  Indian,  Elijah  Skyman,  presided  at 
the  organ,  and  our  Chinese  friends  sang  "What  a 
friend  we  have  in  Jesus,"  we  all  felt  that  missions  paid. 

A  chartered  car,  secured  free,  gave  them  a  pleasant 
trip  to  Minnehaha  Falls  and  the  Lakes.  But  the  crown- 
ing day  for  them  was  Sabbath,  when  seated  in  the  gal- 


>l5 


249 

lery  opposite  the  Pastor,  Dr.  Burrell  gave  our  guests 
a  heart  to  heart  prelude. 

While  they  were  here,  nearly  $300  was  raised  as  a 
beginning  for  the  needed  school  building  at  Good  Will. 
On  their  return  home,  when  asked  what  was  the  best 
part  of  their  visit,  they  promptly  replied,  Westminster 
Church  and  Dr.  Burrell. 

Some  of  these  pupils  are  now  preaching  the  gospel. 
These  days  of  reminiscence  remind  us  of  an  old  time 
social,  given  by  our  Society  to  celebrate  the  thirty- 
first  anniversary  of  this  Church.  The  promised  pres- 
ence of  the  choir  of  1865,  and  reminiscences  of  early 
days,  called  out  a  large  number.  Ladies  with  pow- 
dered hair  and  in  old  time  costume  served  a  supper. 
Judge  Vanderburgh  led  in  prayer.  Those  present  at 
dedication  of  Church  in  1861  had  seats  of  honor  on 
the  platform  wearing  badges  of  Presbyterian  blue  with 
date  of  their  coming  to  the  Church.  Mrs.  C.  H.  Pettit, 
Mrs.  J.  K.  Sidle,  Mrs.  A.  C.  Morgan,  Mrs.  Eliza  Chal- 
mers, Mrs.  Fred  Chalmers,  Mrs.  Mary  Stough,  Mrs.  A. 
Bradford,  and  John  Anderson,  were  the  honored  eight. 

The  choir,  Mrs.  Joshua  Williams,  one  of  the  early 
choristers,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hiram  Wagner  and  Mrs. 
Alice  W.  Chalmers,  with  Mrs.  S.  P.  B.  Winston  at  the 
piano,  sang  "Home  again,  from  a  foreign  shore."  An 
encore  called  them  to  the  front,  when  Capt.  D.  M.  Gil- 
more  presented  bouquets,  graciously  saying  "They  did 
pretty  well,  though  they  never  could  sing  anyway." 


250 

Judge  Vanderburgh,  Mr.  J.  J.  Ankeny,  Dr.  Evans  and 
Capt.  Gilmore  gave  reminiscences,  while  Mr.  Joshua 
Williams  told  of  early  days,  when  he  drew  the  wood 
on  a  hand  sled  from  the  paternal  wood  pile,  then  went 
round  on  a  bob  sled  to  pick  up  congregation  when 
Sabbath  came.  But  a  telegram  from  Dr.  Sample  re- 
ceived that  day,  was  the  best  of  all.  It  read,  "No 
friends  are  like  old  friends.  The  pastor  by  the  sea 
sends  loving  greetings  to  the  flock  by  the  river.  For 
what  is  our  hope  or  joy  or  crown  of  rejoicing.  Ye  are 
our  glory  and  joy.  Now  the  God  of  peace  be  with  you 
all." 

Mr.  T.  B.  Janney  was  asked  to  send  assurance  of 
our  abiding  love.  "Auld  Lang  Syne"  and  "Blest  be 
the  tie  that  binds,"  were  sung  by  choir  and  audience, 
thus  closing  our  31st  anniversary. 

We  linger  today  and  recall  to  mind,  the  faces  of 
many  loved  ones,  who  are  now  with  their  Lord.  These 
prayerful,  faithful  workers  never  wavered  in  their 
earnest  desire  for  the  salvation  of  those  in  the  dark 
places  of  our  land.  Do  they  not  come  to  us  often  with 
tender  memories,  during  these  Jubilee  days? 

We  read,  "Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 
Their  works  do  follow  them."  Loving  memories  clus- 
ter around  the  name  of  Mrs.  H.  G.  Sidle,  whose  prayers 
and  labors  in  early  days,  are  tenderly  recalled.  She 
was  loyal  to  the  Church  of  her  love,  till  called  to  her 
heavenly  reward. 


251 

A  few  of  the  early  friends  remain.  Mrs.  Allen  Hill 
and  Mrs.  T.  B.  Janney  were  among  our  first  officers; 
Mrs.  H.  W.  Wagner,  Mrs.  C.  B.  HefTelfinger,  Mrs.  D. 
R.  Wagner,  all  workers  in  those  pioneers  days,  still 
cheer  us  with  words  of  counsel  and  help.  A  great 
host  of  new  recruits  are  putting  their  shoulders  to  the 
wheel,  and  the  zeal  for  Home  Missions  abounds. 

We  have  been  highly  favored  in  our  frequent  cor- 
respondence with  the  Woman's  Home  Board.  Their 
joy  is  our  joy,  and  their  pressing  needs  are  urging  us 
on  to  greater  endeavor.  A  large  correspondence,  too, 
with  missionaries  on  the  field  has  kept  us  in  close  touch 
with  their  work,  making  us  more  faithful  in  prayer, 
more  willing  to  deny  ourselves  for  the  salvation  of 
their  people.  Our  enthusiasm  when  some  have  gone 
from  our  own  Church,  has  been  rekindled  and  we 
have  had  representatives  in  Alaska,  among  the  Mexi- 
cans and  Indians  in  Utah  and  the  South  land. 

Moneys  raised  all  these  years  have  exceeded  $30,000. 
The  past  experience  of  the  Missionary  women  of  this 
Church  plainly  warns  us,  to  help  our  brethren,  and  be 
on  the  lookout  for  all  committees  from  New  York, 
Chicago  and  Detroit.  We  feel  this  to  be  an  absolute 
necessity  for  the  advance  of  our  mission  work  and 
cheerfully  add  this  to  our  labors.  For  our  watchword 
at  our  organization  we  selected  "The  love  of  Christ 
constraineth  us."  We  still  lift  it  high  on  our  banners 
and  when  the  Centennial  year  of  this   Church  rolls 


252 

round,  may  its  record  find  the  missionary  women  of 
this  Church  we  love,  faithful  in  His  name. 

Our  three  pastor's  wives,  with  us  today,  have  our 
abiding  grateful  love,  for  all  their  words,  their  prayers, 
and  their  sweet  service  of  song.  The  story  of  these 
years  is  a  pleasant  one.    The  half  cannot  be  told. 

The  Westminster  Missionary  Guild  was  represented 
by  Miss  Anne  Faries,  who  said: 

As  I  thought  over  the  instructions  given  in  Leviti- 
cus, to  "blow  the  Jubilee  Trumpet  in  the  fiftieth  year," 
I  wondered  what  right  our  Society  had  to  make  any 
noise  at  this  time.  But  I  have  discovered  that  we 
have  a  perfectly  legitimate  right  to  make  a  racket,  for 
we  are  like  the  colored  cook  whose  mistress  said  to 
her,  "why  aren't  you  people  more  quiet  and  dignified 
in  your  devotions?  Don't  you  know  that  the  Bible 
tells  us  that,  when  the  Temple  was  being  built,  the 
people  worked  in  silence,  they  didn't  shout  and  sing 
the  way  you  do?"  "Laws  sake,  Miss  Tennant,"  re- 
plied the  cook,  "what  you-all  talkin'  'bout?  Don't 
you  know  we  poah  colo'd  folks  ain't  got  to  buildin' 
ouh  temple  yet,  we's  just  a  blastin'  out  de  foundations." 

Twenty-five  years  ago  this  month,  on  a  bright  day, 
our  beautiful  Young  Ladies'  Missionary  Society  (later 
called  the  "Young  Women's")  was  born. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  at  Mrs.  Terry's,  818 
Nicollet  Avenue.  Mrs.  Wm.  M.  Tenney  and  Miss 
Eliza  Baker,  representing  the  Women's  Foreign  Mis- 


253 

sionary  Society,  and  Mrs.  E.  F.  Pomeroy,  Mrs.  T.  B. 
Janney  and  Mrs.  Phillip  Godley  of  the  Home  Society 
were  the  organizers.  Twenty  young  women  were 
present ;  and,  a  month  later,  there  were  over  fifty  mem- 
bers. 

At  the  very  first  meeting  preparations  were  made 
to  send  a  box  (valued  at  one  hundred  dollars)  to  Wa- 
satch Academy,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Utah.  A  scholarship 
of  one  hundred  dollars,  in  the  same  academy,  was  as- 
sumed this  same  year.  Every  year  since,  we  have 
paid  for  this  scholarship  with  our  other  pledges. 

Mrs.  Terry,  our  first  President,  and  inspiring  leader 
for  several  years,  deserves  great  praise ;  but  what  more 
need  we  say  of  her,  than  that  she  fulfilled  the  Biblical 
requirement  of  a  good  steward,  she  has  always  been 
found  "faithful." 

The  aim  of  our  organization  has  always  been  by 
prayer,  (and  John  R.  Mott  says  that  everything  vital 
in  the  missionary  enterprise  hinges  upon  prayer)  the 
study  of  missions,  and  by  contributions,  to  aid  the 
Women's  Boards  in  the  advancement  of  Christ's  king- 
dom. 

Last  spring,  although  not  yet  twenty-five  years  old, 
we  thought  we  were  not  too  young  to  change  our 
name,  if  asked.  We  were  asked,  and,  united  to  the 
Missionary  Reading  Circle,  became  the  "Westminster 
Missionary  Guild;"  later  joining  the  federation  of 
Chapters,  which  is  known  as  the  "Westminster  Guild." 


254 

One  of  the  objects,  to  which  we  have  contributed,  is 
the  Mateer  Memorial  Hospital  at  Wei  Hein,  North 
China.  Near  this  hospital  stands  the  Church,  from 
whose  belfry  hangs  a  memorial  bell,  calling  the  Chi- 
nese to  worship  on  God's  day.  It  was  sent  by  Mr. 
Kirkwood,  the  husband  of  one  of  our  members  who 
was  called  home. 

Another  dear  member.  Miss  Anne  Smith,  who  was 
an  officer,  has  been  called  to  higher  service,  in  the 
Church  of  the  Redeemed.  One  of  our  members  went 
to  work  on  the  Foreign  field.  Miss  Bissell  served  a 
full,  missionary  term  of  years  in  Siam,  and  we  catch 
glimpses  of  her  teaching  the  boys  in  the  Boon  Itt 
school,  or  drilling  a  choir  of  one  hundred  Siamese 
men,  or,  at  another  time,  rousing  the  young  people  to 
hold  an  enthusiastic  service  on  the  Sabbath  instead  of 
allowing  the  Church  to  be  closed  in  the  pastor's  ab- 
sence. While  home  on  her  furlough,  her  Father  call- 
ed her,  from  San  Jose,  California,  not  back  to  Siam, 
but  to  her  beautiful  Home  Land  of  Heaven. 

John  Wesley  said,  "God  buries  His  workmen,  but 
carries  on  His  work."  He  desires  the  workmen,  who 
still  live,  to  aid  Him  in  the  bringing  of  the  world  to 
Christ. 

The  Social  Circle,  reported  through  Mrs.  L.  L. 
Longbrake. 

While  the  Social  Circle  cannot  claim  the  years  or 
grey  hairs  of  her  more  mature  sisters,  she  is  a  very 


255 

vigorous  young  girl  of  twelve  years,  just  beginning  to 
think  of  lengthening  her  dresses  and  pinning  up  her 
braids. 

The  first  month  of  her  existence  she  was  called, 
"Sewing  Society,"  but  twelve  years  ago  she  was  chris- 
tened at  the  home  of  Dr.  Hunter  and  given  the  name  of 
"Social  Circle."  I  am  not  sure  that  it  was  quite  ortho- 
dox for  Presbyterians,  for  she  had  two  good  mothers 
at  this  christening;  Mrs.  Pleasant  Hunter  as  honorary 
president,  and  Mrs.  Charles  T.  Thompson  as  president, 
ten  members  being  present. 

Since  then  her  growth  and  health  have  been  unre- 
tarded  by  the  usual  childish  diseases,  the  only  tendency 
towards  any  ailment  is  a  certain  palpitation  of  the 
tongue,  manifested  at  the  monthly  thimble  bees;  this 
is  not  at  all  alarming  however,  and  only  proves  that 
women  can  do  two  things  at  once. 

Neither  name  alone,  of  Sewing  Society  or  Social  Cir- 
cle, is  indicative  of  the  scope  of  this  Society  as  she 
combines  the  activities  of  both.  She  might  very  appro- 
priately be  called  "The  Relief  Corps  of  Westminster 
Church,"  for,  if  there  is  any  project  proposed  which 
does  not  come  especially  under  the  jurisdiction  of  any 
of  the  Church  organizations,  the  Social  Circle  is  asked 
to  assume  the  responsibility,  and  she  always  cheerfully 
assents. 

In  her  social  duties,  her  aim  is  to  aid  the  pastor  in 
every  way  to  promote  sociability,  often  the  weak  point 


256 

in  a  large  Church ;  and,  for  this  purpose,  nine  meetings 
are  held  during  the  year,  consisting  of  two  evening  re- 
ceptions at  the  Church,  to  which  the  gentlemen  are  in- 
vited, and  thimble  bees  held  at  private  residences.  To 
these  the  members  bring  their  own  fancy  work;  light 
refreshments  are  served  and  some  entertainment  given 
in  the  way  of  recitations  or  music.  The  newcomers 
are  welcomed,  and,  we  hope,  are  made  to  feel  less  keen- 
ly the  severing  of  Church  ties  in  some  former  distant 
home.     Occasional  picnics  are  held. 

The  year  begins  in  October,  preceded  by  a  rally  in 
September  and  election  of  officers,  and  ends  in  April. 
Of  the  work  meetings,  seven  are  held;  falling  on  the 
second  Tuesday  of  each  month — all  day  meetings  at 
the  Church  with  lunch  at  noon  in  the  cheerful  kitchen, 
towards  which  each  one  contributes  some  one  arti- 
cle of  food.  The  average  attendance  is  sixty,  and  we 
have  the  pleasure  of  entertaining  both  pastors,  and 
often  the  treasurer  of  the  Church.  These  gatherings 
are  so  enjoyable  and  the  sewing  during  the  morning 
gives  such  a  keen  appetite,  that  it  is  only  the  tired 
muscles  that  remind  us  that  we  have  been  doing 
something  besides  having  a  good  time.  If,  as  you  near 
the  sewing  room,  you  are  reminded  of  the  sound  of  an 
approaching  tornado,  your  mind  is  relieved  when  you 
open  the  door,  and  find  it  is  only  the  murmur  of  voices, 
and  the  whir  of  three  machines.  You  may  occasionally 
see  a  needle  held  in  midair,  while  the  owner  is  absorb- 


257 

cd  in  relating  an  interesting  anecdote,  her  brain  mean- 
while forgetting  to  point  out  the  road  to  be  taken  by 
the  waiting  needle;  but,  notwithstanding  these  little 
digressions,  the  work  progresses  steadily,  as  is  evi- 
denced, at  the  close  of  the  day,  in  the  pile  of  finished 
clothing. 

The  Social  Circle  does  nothing  to  make  money,  the 
yearly  dues  of  twenty-five  cents  from  the  250  members 
meeting  the  expenses. 

A  work  committee  of  seven  ladies  meets  the  day  be- 
fore a  work  meeting,  cutting  and  preparing  the  work, 
while  a  dining-room  committee  and  one  on  entertain- 
ment, have  in  charge  the  luncheons  and  entertainments 
for  the  social  gatherings.  The  Society  gives  aid  to  ten 
benevolent  institutions  in  the  city,  i.  e.,  the  Associated 
Charities,  Humane  Society,  Bethany  Home,  Pillsbury 
Home  for  Working  Girls,  Maternity  Hospital,  Flor- 
ence Crittenton  Home,  Home  for  Aged  Women,  Jones- 
Harrison  Home,  Travelers'  Aid  and  the  Jeane  Martin 
Brown  Home  for  Children. 

The  aid,  given  these,  is  any  needed  sewing  and, 
where  there  is  necessity,  material  is  donated.  Contri- 
butions of  money  are  given  to  Maternity  Hospital, 
Bethany  Home  and  to  Florence  Crittenton  Home,  and 
the  Westminster  room  in  Pillsbury  Home  is  kept  in 
repair. 

A  lady  is  appointed  for  each  of  these  institutions, 


258 

whose  duty  it  is  to  visit  and  ascertain  the  needs  of 
each. 

These  are  the  regular  avenues  of  aid;  but  the  sym- 
pathies of  the  Social  Circle  are  large,  and,  if  an  es- 
pecially urgent  appeal  comes  to  either  the  Home  or 
Foreign  Missionary  Societies,  the  Social  Circle  offers 
her  donation  and  is  thus  in  touch  with  Home  and 
Foreign  Missions  as  well  as  with  the  objects  of  benevo- 
lence in  the  city. 

I  well  remember  a  few  years  ago,  when  the  wife  of 
a  returned  foreign  missionary  came  to  the  city  from 
her  home  in  a  near-by  town,  to  make  her  modest  pur- 
chases for  the  spring  clothing  of  five  little  girls.  When 
the  Social  Circle  thought  of  all  the  stitches  to  be  taken 
by  one  pair  of  hands,  she  offered  to  make  the  dresses, 
while  some  generous  friends  added  material  for  simple 
white  dresses  for  each  child.  When  all  those  dresses 
were  finished  and  pinned  around  the  wall,  it  reminded 
one  of  the  Woman's  Department  at  the  State  Fair, 
only  there  were  no  blue  and  red  premium  cards  to  be 
seen. 

The  most  satisfactory  premium,  the  ladies  could 
have  received,  was  the  delight  of  that  mother  when 
she  viewed  the  exhibit.  I  shall  never  forget  the  glisten 
in  her  eyes,  when  she  saw  those  white  dresses;  and  she 
spoke  of  one  little  daughter,  who  longed  so  for  a  white 
dress  for  the  Easter  exercises,  like  all  the  other  chil- 
dren, and  added,  "Now  each  one  will  be  so  happy." 


259 

Two  years  ago  last  spring,  when  the  newly  ap- 
pointed missionary  of  this  Presbytery,  Mrs.  Rebecca 
Van  Cleve  Nicol,  was  about  to  leave  the  city,  the  Social 
Circle  tendered  her  a  luncheon  in  the  Church  dining 
room,  to  which  representatives  from  each  Church  were 
invited.  The  tables  were  beautiful  with  their  decoration 
of  spring  flowers,  and  the  menu  was  dainty  and  appe- 
tizing, while  the  after-dinner  speeches  afforded  much 
merriment  and  also  food  for  serious  thought.  I  am 
sure  the  memory  of  that  gathering  will  be  one  of  the 
tender  links,  between  the  far  away  home  in  Syria  and 
the  many  friends  in  the  home  land. 

Is  there  any  greater  pleasure  than  to  be  of  service? 
To  feel  that  we  are  aiding  those,  who  represent  us  in 
the  foreign  field,  in  the  home  field,  or  who  labor  for 
the  benevolent  institutions  in  the  city?  We  thus  place 
before  you  in  a  feeble  way,  the  aims  and  workings  of 
the  Social  Circle,  and,  if  it  sounds  a  little  like  blowing 
the  horn  of  self-praise,  you  must  remember  that  the 
Social  Circle  has  no  Presbyterial  meeting  each  spring, 
at  which  she  can  place  before  the  public  the  work  of 
the  year.  It  is  only  once  in  fifty  years  that  she  appears 
before  the  public ;  and,  after  this  meeting,  the  horn 
will  be  laid  aside  for  another  fifty  years,  in  which  there 
will  be  ample  time  for  growth  and  improvement  along 
with  the  gray  hairs  which  are  sure  to  come. 

After  Mrs.  Longbrook's  paper  Mrs.  Eugene  N.  Best 


260 

sang  beautifully,  to  her  own  accompaniment,  the  song 
"Eye  hath  not  seen;  ear  hath  not  heard." 

The  work  of  the  Kindergarten  and  Industrial  So- 
ciety was  then  presented  by  Mrs.  H.  S.  Weir. 

Mrs.  Weir :  We  are  looking  back  to  the  beginning  of 
things  today.  The  Kindergarten  and  Industrial  So- 
ciety is  not  very  old.  It  was  organized  April  28th, 
1884,  under  the  unassuming  name  of  "Westminster 
Aid  Society,"  in  response  to  an  earnest  appeal  from 
Mr.  Irwin,  then  Synodical  Missionary  for  Minnesota. 

He  spoke  of  the  various  needs  of  Highland  Park, 
Bloomington  Avenue  and  Merriam  Park  Churches,  but 
more  especially  of  the  pressing  need  of  furnishings  for 
Riverside  Mission.  A  chapel  had  just  been  completed, 
not  in  the  present  location  but  down  on  the  Flats,  and 
was  in  immediate  need  of  seats,  matting,  a  library  and 
other  things.  The  Society  was  organized,  according 
to  Article  2nd  of  its  constitution,  to  aid  in  furnishing 
Mission  Churches  of  our  denomination  and  to  furnish 
suitable  clothing  for  destitute  children  attending  the 
Sabbath  Schools.  But  scarce  six  months  had  passed, 
before  a  sewing  school  was  organized  at  Riverside,  or 
rather  the  Society  took  charge  of  one,  that  had  been 
organized  by  a  Miss  Clark  and  had  been  meeting  at 
private  houses. 

This  School  continued  in  session  from  September  to 
April,  instead  of  from  November  to  March,  as  today. 
A  Superintendent  was  hired,  who  also  acted  as  Visitor 


261 

on  the  field.  An  omnibus  carried  the  ladies  to  the 
Chapel  every  Saturday  afternoon.  A  little  later,  the 
President  of  the  Society  also  acted  as  Superintendent 
of  the  Sewing  School. 

The  Secretary  writes  at  this  time.  "There  is  so 
much  more  than  ever  to  be  done  in  Mission  work,  we 
can  only  bend  all  our  efforts  in  that  direction  and  ask 
aid  of  our  rich  Heavenly  Father."  It  was  well  these 
consecrated  women  realized,  that  they  had  a  rich 
Heavenly  Father.  The  minutes  of  the  Society,  for 
the  first  few  years,  are  a  record  of  struggle ;  but  faith 
was  firm  and  prayer  earnest. 

In  February,  1886,  the  name  was  changed  to  "West- 
minster City  Mission  Society,"  as  more  clearly  indi- 
cating the  work  of  the  Society.  In  November,  1894, 
the  name  was  again  changed  to  "Woman's  City  Mis- 
sion Society,"  to  distinguish  it  from  the  work  of  the 
men  and,  as  there  still  seemed  to  be  confusion,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1903,  the  name  was  changed  to  the  present 
one,  "Westminster  Kindergarten  and  Industrial  So- 
ciety." 

In  October,  1887,  Hope  Kindergarten  was  opened. 
Its  usefulness  made  the  ladies  feel  the  need  of  one  at 
Riverside.  A  communication  was  sent  to  the  Session, 
asking  them  to  appropriate  $100.00  a  month  to  carry 
on  the  work.  In  due  time  an  ansv/er  came,  giving  the 
reasons  why  they  could  not  accede  to  the  request,  and 
regretting   their   inability   to    do   so.     The    Secretary 


262 

adds,  "Again  we  must  stop  and  consider."  Evidently 
the  stopping  was  not  very  long,  for  the  next  meeting 
we  find  a  committee  to  solicit  funds  and  a  teacher  en- 
gaged to  begin  a  kindergarten  at  Riverside  the  next 
month.  During  the  same  month,  at  a  meeting  held 
at  Mrs.  Farrington's,  the  committee  reported  $380.00 
had  been  raised,  and  Miss  Kenyon,  out  of  the  joy  of 
her  heart,  asked  to  have  sung  the  good,  old  hymn 
"How  Firm  a  Foundation." 

A  great  step  in  advance  was  taken,  when  the  So- 
ciety organized  the  free  kindergarten — Hope,  as  I 
have  said  in  October,  1887,  and  Riverside  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1888.  It  was  Christ  himself,  who  gave,  as  a 
test  of  love  to  Him,  the  command,  "Feed  my  lambs." 

This  command  has  been  literally  carried  out  in  our 
kindergartens.  Thousands  of  children  have  been 
gathered  there  during  these  years.  The  conditions  of 
many  of  those  homes,  during  the  early  years  of  our 
work,  was  simply  appalling.  After  a  few  months  of 
visiting,  one  of  our  kindergarteners  says  in  her  report, 
"If  want  and  sickness  and  dirt  were  all,  it  would  still 
be  encouraging;  but,  when  sin,  constant  and  persis- 
tent, is  added,  we  are  often  overwhelmed." 

Think  of  taking  children  from  such  an  environment 
and  bringing  them  into  our  kindergarten  rooms,  bright 
with  growing  plants,  pictures  and  birds;  the  contact 
with  loving  teachers;  the  influence  of  music,  nature 
study  and  the  merry  games ;  the  joy  of  the  Christmas 


263 

party,  when  proud  parents  receive  the  gifts  little  fin- 
gers have  made,  and  the  children  have  their  own  treat, 
the  lessons  in  thoughtfulness  and  love.  Is  there  a- 
more  beautiful  way  of  spending  money,  than  to  make 
happy  childhood  and  to  start,  on  the  way  to  noble 
Christian  manhood  and  womanhood,  unfortunate  chil- 
dren? One  of  the  kindergarteners  relates  the  story  of  a 
little  boy,  who,  hearing  one  of  the  other  children  use  a 
very  bad  word  said  to  him,  "You  will  never  see  God's 
face,  if  you  say  bad  words."  The  other  little  fellow 
said,  "My  papa  uses  bad  words."  The  first  little  boy 
said  very  earnestly,  "You  tell  your  papa  that  he  will 
never  see  Cod's  face,  if  he  uses  bad  words."  Is  it 
not  true  that  a  little  child  shall  lead  them? 

How  many  a  transformed  home  is  due  to  the  influ- 
ence of  the  kindergarten ! 

A  word  of  appreciation  for  the  faithful  kindergar- 
teners. We  have  been  especially  fortunate  in  having  at 
Hope  two  such  noble,  consecrated  women  as  Mrs. 
Mary  Plum  and  Mrs.  Harriet  Shryock,  while  the  re- 
sults of  nearly  twenty  years  of  service,  given  by  Mrs. 
Susan  Morse,  at  Riverside,  eternity  alone  will  reveal. 
These  teachers  not  only  give  their  services  in  the  kin- 
dergartens, but  act  as  missionaries  on  the  field,  spend- 
ing their  afternoons  in  visiting  the  homes  of  the  chil- 
dren. 

Conditions  have  wonderfully  improved,  since  those 
early   days.     Then  they  did   not   dare  to   go   around 


264 

alone,  making  their  calls;  now  they  feel  as  safe  as 
though  they  were  calling  around  Westminster  Church. 

In  December,  1888,  Hope  Industrial  School  was 
started.  For  a  year  we  met  in  the  little  old  chapel  on 
Ninth  Avenue  North.  The  room  was  heated  by  stoves, 
and  we  were  very  crowded.  It  was  a  happy  day  when 
we  marched  into  the  new  chapel,  singing  "Enter  into 
His  gates  with  thanksgiving  and  into  His  courts  with 
praise." 

In  1891  a  Sewing  School  was  organized  at  Farview 
Chapel  under  the  care  of  Mrs.  Sherman  Davis.  Near- 
ly every  kind  of  work  has  been  carried  on  by  the  So- 
ciety. Anything  that  promised  to  help  the  people  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  Chapel — a  day  nursery,  cook- 
ing classes,  gymnasium  classes,  a  boy's  brigade,  the 
penny  provident  fund,  a  free  dispensary,  classes  in  mil- 
linery and  dressmaking,  mothers'  meetings,  which  have 
recently  been  made  to  include  the  fathers.  From  the 
first  the  question  of  what  to  do  with  the  boys  has  been 
a  problem.  For  a  number  of  years  they  were  organ- 
ized in  classes,  some  sewing.  (Many  a  kitchen  apron 
has  been  made  by  the  busy  fingers  of  a  boy  for  moth- 
er's Christmas  present).  At  present  the  boys  all  do 
manual  training,  as  well  as  the  tools,  with  which  they 
have  to  work,  will  allow.  Last  year  a  good  equipment 
was  provided  for  Riverside. 

During  the  first  years,  the  way  to  provide  means  for 
carrying  on  the  work  was  a  constant  problem.     Again 


John  Edward  Bushnell,  D.D., 
Installed  as  Pastor  March  6th,    1901 


265 

and  again  special  meetings  were  called  to  consider 
ways  and  means.  Personal  solicitation,  entertain- 
ments, appeals  to  the  Sessions  for  help,  monthly  dues 
from  men  and  every  way,  that  the  fertile  brain  of 
woman  could  invent,  were  tried.  Many  times  the  Sec- 
retary writes,  we  took  what  we  had,  "Faith  and  prayer" 
and  went  forward. 

Things  seemed  to  reach  a  crisis  in  December,  1893. 
There  were  no  funds  and  seemingly  no  way  to  get 
any.  A  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  was  appointed.  I 
wish  I  had  time  to  trace  the  steps — suffice  it  to  say 
from  that  meeting  came  our  Pledge  Sabbath — the  Sab- 
bath before  Thanksgiving  which  is  sacred  to  the 
"Westminster  Kindergarten  and  Industrial  Society." 

Of  course,  a  work  like  this  requires  a  great  many 
workers,  and  a  host  of  women  have  responded  to  the 
call.  Just  a  brief  mention  of  some  who  are  not  with 
us  today,  but  who  have  been  so  identified  with  the  So- 
ciety that  they  can  never  seem  far  away.  Miss  Ken- 
yon  presided  at  the  first  meeting,  and,  until  her  death, 
was  connected  in  some  way  with  the  work — for  the 
last  few  years  as  Honorary  President.  I  often  think 
that  her  earnest  prayers,  so  frequently  heard  in  the 
monthly  meetings,  had  much  to  do  with  the  success  of 
the  work.  And  dear  Mrs.  Farrington!  no  memory 
could  be  sweeter  than  all  city  mission  workers  have 
of  this  beloved  sister  so  many  years  our  honored  pres- 


266 

ident.  Very  much  of  otif  success  is  due  to  her  untir- 
ing devotion,  persistent  efforts  and  able  planning. 

And  dear  Mrs.  A.  M.  Henderson !  one  of  the  faithful 
ones,  a  member  of  the  first  board  of  directors  and  un- 
tiring in  her  efforts,  until  God  took  her  home. 

Mrs.  M.  M.  Harris,  Mrs.  I.  C.  Faries  and  Mrs.  A.  C. 
Morgan  are  among  the  names  of  those  early  workers 
who  have  gone  to  their  reward.  Had  I  time,  I  could 
mention  many  names — some  of  them  at  the  very  first 
meeting  and  still  active — others  who  have  given  years 
of  service,  they  are  here  today.  You  know  them. 
The  Lord  reward  them. 

It  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  even  speak  of  the  work 
carried  on  today.  The  Chapels  are  there  for  you  to 
visit.  If  you  have  never  been  to  one  of  our  kinder- 
gartens, you  have  missed  one  of  the  pleasantest  sights 
in  this  city. 

The  Industrial  Schools  are  organized  according  to 
latest  methods,  but  there  is  need  always  of  more 
teachers. 

Compared  with  the  beginning  of  the  work,  a  big  ad- 
vance has  been  made;  but  the  same  earnestness,  high 
ideals  and  consecration  in  the  women  of  today  will 
bring  about  corresponding  advance  in  the  work  of  the 
future. 

Following  Mrs.  Weir's  address  four  little  girls  ap- 
peared upon  the  platform  and  gave  a  report  for  the 
"Pearl  Gatherers,"  a  missionary  band  in  the  Primary 


267 

Department.  The  historian  has  not  received  a  report 
of  what  they  said  and  cannot,  therefore,  reproduce  it 
here. 

The  story  of  the  "Gleaners,"  was  next  presented  by 
Julia  George. 

"To  look  at  us,  you  would  not  think  we  were  so  old. 
My  teacher  says  that  there  was  once  a  man,  who  be- 
lieved, that,  if  he  could  find  a  certain  fountain  and 
bathe  in  it,  he  would  always  be  young.  Poor  old 
Ponce  de  Leon  never  found  his  fountain,  but  I  think 
the  Gleaners  must  have  bathed  in  it  without  knowing 
it,  for  they  tell  me  we  were  twenty-four  years  old  last 
January;  but  I  am  sure  we  do  not  feel  that  old,  and  I 
do  not  believe  you  think  we  look  so  very  old,  do  you? 

We  are  the  oldest  of  all  the  young  people's  societies 
except  the  Guild;  and  they  grew  so  old  that  they  had 
to  begin  all  over  again.  They  ought  to  bathe  in  our 
fountain. 

We  were  born  in  January,  1883,  and  were  named  by 
our  mother,  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Socie- 
ty, "The  Young  Girl's  Mission  Band,"  Like  a  great 
many  other  women  folks,  we  have  changed  our  name 
since;  and  we  are  now  called  the  Gleaners. 

Our  mother  was  the  Foreign  Missionary  Society  and 
we  worked  at  first  for  Foreign  Missions,  giving  $25.00 
each  year  to  send  a  Hindoo  girl  to  school  at  the  Jumna 
Girls'  School  in  Allahabad,  India.  The  girls  in  this 
school  are  the  children  of  native  Christians,  and  are 


268 

trained  to  be  good  Christian  women  and,  many  of 
them,  teachers ;  and  we  love  to  think  that  perhaps  some 
of  our  girls  are  teaching  the  little  heathen  children  of 
Jesus  and  that  they,  when  they  grow  up,  will  teach 
others,  so  that  our  pennies  will  never  stop  working.  ' 

You  would  not  expect  us  to  remember  our  first 
nurse;  and  there  is  no  woman  in  the  Church  old 
enough  to  remember  for  us.  We  only  know,  that  we 
have  always  had  a  kind  nurse  to  help  and  guide  us. 

There  were  never  but  two  years,  when  we  did  not 
raise  more  than  our  pledge  of  $25,00;  and,  when  we 
were  ten  years  old,  we  began  to  give  what  we  had  over 
that  to  Home  Missions. 

In  1898  we  decided  to  divide  our  money  equally  and 
to  raise  $20.00  for  each,  but  we  did  not  want  to  send 
five  dollars  less  than  usual  to  India,  so  we  tried  very 
hard  and  raised  $57.56.  The  next  year,  we  raised 
$50.00,  our  pledge,  and,  since  then,  have  always  gone 
beyond  it.  In  all  our  life  we  have  given  $1020.38  to 
missions. 

At  different  times  our  three  pastors,  whom  we  love 
so  dearly,  have  helped  us  by  letting  us  sell  their  pho- 
tographs. They  all  looked  their  very  best,  when  they 
were  taken,  and  every  one  seemed  very  glad  to  get 
three  such  handsome  pictures. 

In  one  of  our  annual  reports  our  Secretary  said :  "In 
olden  times  the  men  reaped  with  sickles  and  the  women 
and  children  went  behind  and  gathered  the  grain  that 


269 

was  left.  Although  we  little  girls  of  the  Gleaners 
Society  can  not  do  great  things,  we  have  found  there 
are  a  great  many  little  things  we  can  do." 

That  is  just  what  we  want  to  do — some  of  the  little 
things  that  would  not  be  done,  if  we  forgot  to  dp  our 
part — and,  so  long  as  we  remember  that  Jesus  said  He 
would  not  forget  a  cup  of  cold  water  given  because  we 
love  Him,  we  feel  sure  He  will  smile  on  our  pennies  if 
we  give  them  with  love  in  our  hearts. 

Miss  Ethel  Mitchell  spoke  for  the  Daughters  of  the 
King. 

As  a  member  of  the  Daughters  of  the  King,  I  have 
been  asked  to  tell  you  a  little  of  the  work  of  our  so- 
ciety. 

This  organization  began  its  work  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Miss  Baker,  about  the  year  1878.  The  society 
is  composed  of  girls  of  High  School  age,  and  we  now 
boast  a  membership  of  forty.  Our  meetings  are  held 
once  a  month  in  the  Church  parlors  and  are  of  a  very 
interesting  nature.  We  study  both  home  and  foreign 
missions. 

The  main  object  of  our  society  is  to  instill  into  the 
minds  of  the  young  people  a  true  missionary  spirit, 
and  to  help  advance  God's  kingdom.  Each  year  at 
Christmas  each  girl  is  given  the  name  of  a  missionary, 
to  whom  she  sends  a  gift,  and  we  are  brought  in  closer 
<:ontact  with  missions,  in  this  way. 

Beside  this,  we  help  fill  boxes  to  be  sent  to  different 


270 

mission  schools,  aid  in  sustaining  a  scholarship  at 
Sitka,  Alaska,  and  contribute  toward  the  general  fund 
of  Home  and  Foreign  Missions. 

Our  officers  consist  of  President,  Vice-President, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  with  a  leader. 

Miss  Jennie  Congdon  spoke  for  the  Senior  Christian 
Endeavor  Society,  as  follows: 

The  Westminster  Christian  Endeavor  Society  was 
organized  during  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Burrell,  in  the 
year  1888.  The  first  society  enrolled  on  its  lists  fifty- 
one  active  members,  seventeen  associates  and  thirty- 
one  ex-officio  members.  From  the  first,  the  motto  has 
been  "service,"  in  the  society,  in  the  home  school,  and 
in  the  chapels.  During  these  years  the  membership 
has  changed  many  times,  but  the  spirit  is  still  the  same. 
After  the  burning  of  the  Church  home  on  Seventh 
Street,  circumstances  were  not  favorable;  but,  with 
the  building  of  the  new  church  and  the  coming  of 
Mr.  Curtis,  the  outlook  became  brighter.  Under  his 
skillful  leadership  the  society  enlarged  its  membership 
and  its  offerings,  the  latter  rising  from  an  insignificant 
sum  to  one  of  good  proportions.  After  the  departure 
of  Mr,  Curtis,  we  were  left  largely  to  our  own  re- 
sources until  the  coming  of  Mr.  Patterson,  in  whom 
we  found  just  the  leader  for  whom  we  had  been  wait- 
ing. Like  many  of  the  other  organizations,  ours  was 
handicapped  by  the  damage  done  to  the  building  by 
the  storm  of  1904;  but  we  held  together  and,  in  due 


271 

time,  came  into  our  large  room  again  where  strangers 
were  able  to  find  us. 

The  Westminster  Endeavorers  feel  justly  proud  of 
the  reputation,  which  they  have  made,  as  pioneers  in 
mission-study  work  among  the  young  people  of  the 
city.  Besides  organizing  classes  in  our  own  society, 
we  have  sent  out  leaders  for  other  groups.  To  one  of 
our  members  the  credit  was  largely  due  that  Minne- 
apolis was  privileged  to  enjoy  a  Missionary  Institute, 
before  even  our  big  sister-city,  Chicago,  bestirred  her- 
self to  secure  a  like  opportunity  for  inspiration.  Un- 
like some  others,  our  affections  are  equally  divided  be- 
tween Home  and  Foreign  Missions,  each  receiving  a 
share  in  our  gifts  and  hours  of  study. 

Our  society  has  always  been  well  represented  in 
the  work  at  Hope  and  Riverside  Chapels,  and  many 
of  the  most  efficient  officers  and  teachers  are  either 
past  or  present  Endeavorers.  Loyalty  to  the  work 
of  our  own  Church  has  always  been  emphasized,  even 
when  loyalty  has  meant  the  loss  of  our  most  active 
workers. 

However,  life  among  Christian  Endeavorers  is  not 
all  work.  We  have  our  seasons  for  play,  and,  when 
those  occasions  arrive,  we  have  merry  times.  The 
playful  spirit  has  manifested  itself  in  various  ways — 
Hallowe'en  revels,  skating-parties,  musicales,  picnics, 
corn-roasts.  We  are  always  glad  to  welcome  our 
friends,  both  young  and  older,  to  come  and  see  that 


272 

we  know  how  to  be  gay  without  being  giddy  and  can 
be  happy  without  being  hilarious. 

Upon  such  an  occasion,  it  is  fitting  to  voice  our  ap- 
preciation of  the  cordial  sympathy  and  co-operation, 
which  have  been  given  to  us,  in  such  generous  meas- 
ure by  our  pastors,  past  and  present.  We  desire,  at 
the  same  time  to  give  due  credit  to  the  effort  of  those, 
who  were  once  active  Endeavorers,  but  who  are  now 
graduated  into  advanced  service  in  the  Church.  We 
wish,  also,  to  pay  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  one  who 
worked  long  and  faithfully  in  the  society,  and  whose 
place  can  never  be  filled.  Katherine  McMurdy's 
hands  and  feet  and  brain  have  done  their  last  work  on 
earth,  but  the  memory  of  her  consistent  and  unselfish 
life  remains  to  make  us  all  better  Endeavorers,  every 
time  we  think  or  speak  of  her. 

The  record  of  Westminster  Christian  Endeavor  So- 
ciety is  not  a  long  one ;  but  it  is  none  the  less  honor- 
able. In  these  days  of  increasing  opportunity,  our 
Church  needs  trained  workers  as  never  before.  Young 
people,  in  the  first  enthusiasm  of  their  Christian  life, 
wish  to  work  definitely  for  Christ,  but  do  not  know 
how.  The  Christian  Endeavor  Society  is  here  to  sup- 
ply these  needs,  and  welcomes  all  young  people  to  its 
fellowship  and  service. 


273 

THE  JUNIOR  CHAPTER. 

The  Junior  Chapter  was  organized  in  May,  1907,  un- 
der the  especial  care  of  our  assistant-pastor,  Mr.  Fin- 
ney. The  Chapter  invites  to  its  membership  all  young 
persons  between  the  ages  of  twelve  and  sixteen.  Its 
object  is  to  foster  interest  among  our  younger  young 
people  in  religious  work ;  to  increase  their  love  for  the 
Bible;  to  promote  the  habit  of  prayer;  to  develop  in 
them  a  loyalty  to  the  Church  founded  on  a  knowledge 
of  its  history,  doctrines  and  activities;  and  to  train 
them  for  effective  service. 

The  Intermediate  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  was 
represented  by  Miss  Helen  Weld,  who  said: 

History  has  always  been  so  hard  for  me,  and  to  tell 
the  history  of  our  society  seemed  almost  impossible. 
So  I  should  like  to  just  tell  a  little  story.  All  nice 
stories  begin  with  "once  upon  a  time"  and  so  once 
upon  a  time,  let  us  say  twelve  years  ago,  there  was 
found  in  Westminster  a  little  band  of  children.  The 
first  time  these  children  met  to  grow  acquainted,  there 
were  only  seven  of  them.  But  great  endings  often 
come  from  small  beginnings. 

It  was  a  path  of  struggle,  on  which  these  little  peo- 
ple began.  They  met  and  started  in  the  primary 
room,  then  were  lead  on  to  the  Intermediate,  then  a  re- 
treat back  to  the  primary,  on  to  the  parlors  and  finally 
won  a  victory  by  reaching  the  place  of  honor  in  the 


274 

big  Sunday  School  room.  It  was  not,  though,  with- 
out separations  and  a  few  sorrows  that  these  Juniors 
attained  a  grown-up  stage,  for,  three  years  after  their 
organization  the  older  ones  were  promoted  and  be- 
came the  present  Intermediates.  It  was  a  great  honor; 
and  the  story  runs  that  one  little  boy,  now  a  grown-up 
young  man  in  the  Church,  wept  because  he  was  not 
old  enough  to  go  onward. 

Now,  great  men  tell  us,  that  there  is  always  a  reason 
for  everything.  They  call  it  cause  and  effect.  Just 
so,  there  was  a  reason  for  the  growing  up  together  of 
this  little  band.  It  was  because  some  of  their  good 
older  friends  understood  that,  as  a  band  knowing  each 
other  as  little  Christians,  they  would  grow  to  be  strong, 
bigger  Christians.  They  knew,  too,  that,  as  they  grew, 
they  would  more  and  more  want  to  tell  to  some  other 
the  story  they  loved  of  Jesus  Christ.  Some  of  these 
older  friends  were  willing  to  lead  this  little  band,  till 
it  grew  old  enough  and  wise  enough  to  guide  itself. 

And  now  the  Intermediates  have  grown  up,  but  still 
they  cling  to  their  childhood  name.  Though  not  yet 
across  a  sweep  of  fifty  years,  they  look  back  with  many 
a  happy  thought  upon  this  little  story.  There  comes 
a  smile  once  in  a  while,  too,  as  when  one  little  girl, 
now  a  big  one,  recalls  how,  in  answer  to  roll-call,  she 
gave  every  Sunday  the  very  same  verse  and  that  the 
first  in  the  Bible,  and  then  wondered  every  Sunday 


275 

if  anyone  could  possibly  remember  that  she  gave  it 
the  last  Sunday. 

There  is  the  memory,  which  is  still  a  loving  and 
reverent  one  of  the  leaders  who  once  planned  and 
worked  with  them.  Their  names  will  always  be  writ- 
ten high  in  the  list  of  their  friends.  There  is  not  only 
a  happy  remembrance,  but  there  is  a  deeper  joy,  in  the 
thought  that  they  are  still  working  to  carry  out  the 
same  high  aims  and  ideals,  for  which  this  little  band 
was  found. 

So  my  little  story  comes  to  an  end,  because  we  can- 
not see  into  the  future.  As  all  nice  stories  begin  with 
"once  upon  a  time,"  so  they  all  should  end  with  "and 
so  they  lived  happily  ever  afterwards."  The  look  into 
the  past  has  been  happy.  All  that  may  be  asked  is 
that,  if,  casting  a  magic  glance  into  the  future,  one 
might  truly  say,  they  lived  happily  ever  afterwards. 

The  next  number  proved  to  be  a  great,  but  very 
pleasant,  surprise  to  nearly  every  one,  for  only  a  few 
had  been  let  into  the  secret.  Upon  the  program  ap- 
peared the  word  "Trio"  and  nothing  else.  Those  not 
in  the  secret  supposed,  that  it  meant  some  vocal  se- 
lection, though  it  seemed  strange  that  the  names  of  the 
singers  should  not  have  been  given  in  the  program. 

Mrs.  Miller  arose  and  invited  to  the  platform  Mrs. 
Dr.  Bushnell,  Mrs.  Dr.  Burrell  and  Mrs.  Dr.  Hunter. 
Unfortunately  Mrs.  Bushnell  and  Mrs.  Hunter,  not 
knowing  that  any  such  thing  was  intended,  had  just 


276 

left  the  Church  for  the  purpose,  as  the  hour  was  late, 
of  getting  a  rest  before  the  evening  service.  Mrs.  Bur- 
rell  alone  responded  to  the  invitation  and  the  "Solo" 
had  to  take  the  place  of  the  "Trio."  To  her  and  to  the 
other  two,  who  were  present  in  spirit  though  not  in 
person.  Mrs.  E.  S.  Williams  made  this  address: 

TRIO. 

I  confess  to  being  confronted  with  an  embarrass- 
ment of  riches.  When  I  was  asked  to  tell  something 
at  this  service  regarding  our  Foreign  Missionary  work, 
I  was  told  that  I  must  not  exceed  ten  minutes;  and  I 
was  made  to  feel  that  I  was  almost  taking  my  life  in 
my  hands,  if  I  ran  over  that  time  by  the  fraction  of  a 
second.  I  was  warned,  too,  that,  if  I  should  transgress 
in  this  respect,  an  ominous  cough,  or  a  pull  at  my  skirt 
— a  phase  of  missionary  work,  with  which,  perhaps, 
we  are  all  of  us  somewhat  familiar,  but  which  is  hard- 
ly conducive  to  peace  of  mind  and  ease  of  platform 
oratory — would  hint  at  dire  consequences  to  follow. 

It  is  a  significant  fact  that,  when  I  was  asked  to  per- 
form this  service — which,  by  the  way,  is  almost  the 
nicest  thing  on  the  program — I  was  given  no  time  lim- 
it ;  and,  if  not  too  presumptions,  I  would  like  to  speak 
on  this  theme  without  limit.  The  natural  inference  is, 
that  to  those,  who  prepared  this  program,  as  well  as 
to  myself,  it  seemed  that  there  should  be  no  time  limit 


277 

to  the  expression  of  the  many  kind  and  loving 
thoughts,  swelling  up  in  all  of  our  hearts  towards  these 
dear  friends.  Perhaps  time,  which  has  dealt  so  len- 
iently with  them,  may  have  impaired  their  hearing 
just  enough  to  leave  me  perfectly  free  to  give  full  ex- 
pression to  these  kind  thoughts. 

For  years,  we  have  longed  to  tell  this  trio  how  much 
we  thought  of  them,  scarcely  daring  to  hope  for  so 
favorable  an  opportunity  as  this  for  a  wide  and  favor- 
able hearing  of  such  kindly  speech.  It  was  only  a  few 
days  ago,  that  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  highly 
respected  gentlemen  in  Minneapolis  said  to  me,  "You 
Westminster  people  are  so  easy  to  entertain ;  if  con- 
versation flags,  all  you  have  to  do  is  to  adroitly  turn 
it  into  Church  channels,  and  you  can  relax  and  lean 
back  and  rest,  while  'they  go  on  forever.' "  "Yes,"  I 
answered,  "but  do  you  not  honestly  think  it  remark- 
able that  we  should  have  had  this  unbroken  record  of 
fifty  years  of  earnest,  able,  consecrated  men  for  our 
pastors?"  "Yes,"  he  replied,  "but  still  more  remark- 
able do  I  consider  the  unbroken  succession  of  cultured, 
consecrated  women,  whom  you  have  had  as  your  pas- 
tor's wives.  I  sometimes  think  I  would  occasionally 
rather  have  a  half  hour's  talk  with  one  of  them,  than 
to  hear  her  husband  preach."  He  was  very  careful  not 
to  say,  which  one.  I  have  been  puzzled  as  to  how  to 
treat  my  subject — whether   to   divide   it — just  for  a 


278 

change,  into  three  heads,  as  would  seem  natural,  or 
treat  it  as  a  composite. 

I  thought  to  ask  the  three,  most  nearly  concerned, 
which  they  would  prefer ;  but  I  knew  that,  if  I  did  so, 
they  would  not  let  me  say  anything,  or,  worse  still, 
they  would  not  come  to  the  meeting.  Whatever  I  may 
say,  my  constituency  will  think  it  too  little  and  the 
friends  most  nearly  concerned  may  think  it  too  much. 
For  years  this  trio  has  been  hidden  in  the  most  sacred 
corner  of  our  hearts.  Your  lives  are  interwoven  into 
the  history  of  this  Church.  Together,  we  have  had 
years  of  varied  toil  and  triumph.  We  have  been  one 
in  heart  and  mind,  and  work.  It  has  been  our  joy  and 
pride  to  have  had,  and  to  have,  such  types  of  all  that 
represents  Christian  womanhood  as  our  guide  and  in- 
spiration, working  side  by  side  with  us  in  all  the  work 
of  the  Church. 

The  graces  of  religion  have,  with  you,  interlaced 
with  even  the  commonest  things  of  life.  It  will  be  a 
pleasant  memory,  I  am  sure,  to  the  two  who  go  and  to 
the  one  who  remains,  that  we  have  looked  in  each 
other's  faces  and  talked  of  the  work  so  dear  to  all 
of  us,  and  we  shall  be  stronger  in  faith  and  purpose, 
by  reason  of  what  you  have  been  and  what  you  are. 

And  together,  our  Jubilee  note  of  praise  is  that  our 
Woman's  work  of  ministering  is  unfinished.  Unfin- 
ished in  what  we  have  already  builded  and  in  that,  to 


279 

which  we  shall  attain — finished  only  when  its  pinna- 
cles shall  reach  the  skies. 

"There  is  no  end  to  the  sky, 

And  the  stars  are  everywhere, 

And  time  is  Eternity 

And  the  here  is  over  there ; 

For  the  common  deeds  of  the  common  day. 

Are  ringing  bells  in  the  Faraway." 

At  the  conclusion  of  Mrs.  Williams'  remarks  the  con- 
gregation arose  and  gave  the  "Trio"  the  Chautauqua 
Salute.  Mrs.  Burrell,  for  herself  and  her  associates 
of  the  "Trio"  responded  most  beautifully  and  touching- 
ly.  Unfortunately,  as  these  remarks  were  of  course 
entirely  extempore  and  no  reporter  was  present,  they 
cannot  be  reproduced  in  print. 

Most  appropriately,  after  this  inspiring  service,  the 
whole  was  closed  by  singing  of  the  sweet  hymn  "Blest 
be  the  tie  that  binds.  Our  hearts  in  Christian  love." 

The  benediction  was  pronounced  by  Rev.  Harry  G. 
Finney. 


CHAPTER  XI. 
XTbe  Jubilee  Sacrament  an&  Sabbatb. 

The  service  on  Saturday  evening  was  the  most  ten- 
der and  beautiful  of  all  of  the  services  of  the  Jubilee. 
It  was  devoted  entirely  to  the  reception  of  new  mem- 
bers into  the  Church,  followed  by  the  administration 
of  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

The  pastor  had  the  pleasant  duty  of  publicly  wel- 
coming into  our  membership  thirty-two  persons,  of 
whom  twelve  had  just  been  received  by  Session  on 
confession  of  faith  in  Christ.  Among  those  received 
on  certificates  from  other  Churches  was  the  venerable 
Mrs.  J.  J.  Linn,  who,  after  many  years  of  service  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  was  returning  to  spend 
her  declining  years  among  her  old  friends  in  the 
Church  of  her  early  love. 

After  the  ceremony  of  receiving  these  new  members, 
the  pastor  called  upon  Rev.  Charles  Thayer,  D.  D.,  to 
preside  at  the  sacramental  table.  In  introducing  him 
Dr.  Bushnell  referred  to  the  fact  that  Father  Thayer 
had,  in  1858,  administered  the  same  sacrament  to  the 
little  Westminster  Church  for  the  first  time  in  her 
history ;  and  he  spoke  of  the  appropriateness  of  having 


281 

him  to  preside  for  the  first  time.     In  introducing  this 
part  of  the  service,  Dr.  Thayer  said : 

SACRAMENTAL  ADDRESS. 
Rev.  Charles  Thayer,  D.  D. 

This  is  a  memorial  service;  in  memory  of  the  death 
of  our  Lord  and  Savior,  when  God  "laid  on  Him  the 
iniquity  of  us  all"  and  He,  by  the  grace  of  God  did 
taste  death  for  every  man."  "My  body-broken,  for 
you."  "My  blood  shed  for  you."  "Do  this  in  remem- 
brance of  Me."  Let  no  other  "remembrances"  come 
in  to  weaken  the  force  of  these  "remembrances"  of 
the  suffering  and  death  of  our  blessed  Lord. 

But  to  "remember  all  the  way  by  which  our  Lord 
hath  led  us"  these  fifty  years  of  history  as  a  Church,  to 
recall  the  names  and  loving  labors  of  those  holy  men 
and  women,  who  have  wrought  in  the  founding  and 
the  upbuilding  of  this  Church,  must  intensify  our 
memories  of  the  blessed  Christ,  and  of  the  "Name 
which  is  above  every  name." 

So  I  remind  you  that  in  April,  1857,  the  Presbytery 
of  St.  Paul,  then  a  very  small  body,  was  informed 
that  a  little  group  of  the  lovers  of  Jesus,  at  the  Falls 
of  St.  Anthony,  desired  to  be  organized  as  a  Church. 
A  committee  was  appointed  therefor.  Rev.  Dr.  Rihel- 
daffer,  founder  and  beloved  pastor  of  Central  Church 
of  St.  Paul,  Rev.  Henry  Maltby,  an  invalid  minister  re- 


282 

siding  at  St.  Paul,  and  Charles  Thayer,  a  Home  Mis- 
sionary at  Hudson.  The  two  of  the  Committee,  re- 
siding at  St.  Paul,  organized  this  Church  in  August, 
1857,  and  arranged  for  me,  the  other  member,  to  preach 
and  hold  a  communion  service,  on  some  Sabbath 
later.  When  I  fulfilled  this  appointment,  I  found  this 
Church  organized  with  eight  members,  three  men  with 
their  wives,  and  two  daughters  of  one  of  the  three 
families.  One  Elder  had  been  installed,  whose  hon- 
ored name  is  perpetuated  by  the  Oliver  Church  of  this 
city.  At  that  first  Communion  eight  more  members 
were  received.  Another  Elder  was  installed,  Louis  H. 
Williams,  mighty  in  the  scriptures,  father  of  Mrs. 
Pettit,  the  only  survivor  of  the  original  eight.  The 
eight  received  at  the  communion  have  all  ceased  from 
their  labors,  the  last  to  depart  being  Mrs.  A.  C.  Mor- 
gan, whose  fragrant  memory  is  still  fresh  with  us. 

It  will  be  good  for  us  to  remember  that  succession  of 
Godly  and  eminent  servants  of  Christ,  who  have  min- 
istered to  this  Church  in  preaching  the  word ;  the  stu- 
dent, Mr.  Dorrance,  early  called  up  higher;  Rev.  Levi 
Hughes,  of  rare  consecration  and  energy;  Rev.  J.  A. 
McKee,  genial,  wise  and  winning.  I  remember  giving 
the  "charge"  at  the  ordination  of  young  Robert 
Strong,  and  his  installation  as  your  first  Pastor.  I 
remember  the  happy  ministrations  of  his  friend  and 
successor,  young  Robert  A.  Condit,  your  second  Pas- 
tor.    Then  came  the  long,  prayerful,  faithful,  blessed 


283 

pastorate  of  the  golden  mouthed  Dr.  Robert  F.  Sam- 
ple. And  then  the  Good  Lord  sent  to  you  in  succes- 
sion, the  three  eminent  and  beloved  ministers  who, 
with  us,  minister  at  this  table  tonight:  the  Reverend 
Doctors,  David  James  Burrell,  Pleasant  Hunter  and 
your  present  Pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  John  E.  Bushnell. 

I  remember  as  Clerk  of  Synod,  correspondence  ap- 
pointing your  Mrs.  Morgan  to  some  duty  in  the  or- 
ganization of  Woman's  Missionary  Work.  And  later, 
as  Moderator  of  Synod,  I  had  the  honor  of  welcoming 
the  first  delegation  from  the  Woman's  Missionary  Or- 
ganizations, upon  the  floor  of  Synod,  led  by  your 
Mrs.  Pomeroy.  They  came  with  fear  and  trembling, 
but  were  the  forerunners  of  those  annual  visitations, 
that  have  cheered,  inspired,  and  oftentimes  shamed 
the  less  zealous  ministers  and  elders  of  Synod. 

And  now,  for  a  moment,  think  of  that  great  multi- 
tude of  devoted  men  and  women,  old  and  young,  who, 
in  the  last  50  years,  have  wrought  in  the  various  multi- 
form agencies  of  this  Church ;  this  great  congregation, 
the  great  Missions  in  different  parts  of  the  city,  their 
Sabbath  Schools,  Endeavor  Societies,  Industrial 
Schools,  Kindergartens,  Mother's  Meetings,  Free  Dis- 
pensaries and  the  financial  ability,  skill,  energy  and 
consecration  to  initiate,  direct,  operate  and  sustain 
all  these  great  and  varied  agencies.  And  all  constrain- 
ed by  the  love  of  Christ  and  by  love  to  the  bodies,  and 
especially  to  the  souls,  of  our  fellow  men,  in  our  own 


284 

city,  our  state,  our  loved  land,  all  lands,  "and  to  the 
uttermost  part  of  the  earth." 

Blessed  memories,  especially  of  those,  who  have  en- 
tered into  the  rest  that  remaineth  for  the  people  of 
God,  who  there  sing  the  "New  song  unto  Him  that 
loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  His  own 
blood."  May  these  memories  indeed  intensify  our 
loving  remembrance  of  their  and  our  Lord,  as  we  now 
obey  His  dying  command,  "Do  this  in  remembrance 
of  me." 

In  accordance  with  the  arrangements  of  the  com- 
mittee the  distribution  of  the  bread  was  assigned  to 
Dr.  Burrell  and  of  the  cup  to  Dr.  Hunter,  each  of 
whom  prefaced  the  discharge  of  his  part  of  the  service 
with  beautiful  and  touching  remarks. 

In  accordance  with  the  custom  of  the  Church  at  such 
a  service  an  offering  was  received  for  the  Deacon's 
fund  for  the  poor  of  the  Church ;  and  a  liberal  sum 
was  realized  therefrom.  The  music  at  this  service  was 
simple,  but  unusually  sweet.  The  choir  rendered  first 
that  grand  hymn  of  the  Church  "Te  Deum  Landa- 
mus;"  and  for  the  offertory,  "Rock  of  Ages."  The 
congregation  joined  heartily  in  the  singing  of  those 
inspiring  old  hymns,  "The  Church's  One  Foundation ; 
Is  Jesus  Christ  her  Lord,"  and,  at  the  close,  "When  I 
Survey  the  Wondrous  Cross." 

Fully  one  thousand  communicants  participated  in 
the  service. 


285 

The  Elders  assisting  in  the  distribution  of  the  ele- 
ments were:  H.  Hart  Brackett,  Judson  E.  Carpenter, 
Charles  S.  Cairns,  A.  M.  Clerihew,  John  Dunwoody, 
John  R.  Gordon,  S.  Arthur  Harris,  Horace  M.  Hill, 
Piatt  W.  Lyon,  A.  R.  Miller,  George  H.  Miller,  John 
McCulloch,  James  Paige,  T.  A.  Sammis,  J.  A.  Steele, 
R.  Burton  Tomlinson,  John  W.  Thomas,  Charles  T. 
Thompson,  Charles  B.  Tucker,  C.  W.  Van  Tuyl  and 
George  W.  Wishard. 

At  the  close  of  the  service  the  congregation  passed 
out,  feeling  that  they  had  been  near  Heaven ;  and  that 
this  service  was  a  happy  prelude  to  the  services  of  the 
Sabbath  following. 


JUBILEE  SABBATH. 

The  Sabbath  Day  was  one  of  the  most  beautiful, 
that  could  well  be  imagined,  so  large  congregations  at 
all  services  were  assured.  Before  the  hour  for  opening 
the  morning  service  had  arrived,  the  auditorium  was 
crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity;  and,  during  nearly 
the  entire  service,  many  people  remained  standing  in 
the  vestibules.  Upon  the  platform  were  the  following 
ministers.  Rev.  David  James  Burrell,  Rev.  John  E. 
Bushnell,  Rev.  Pleasant  Hunter,  Rev.  Harry  G.  Fin- 
ney and  Rev.  Charles  Thayer.  The  order  of  service 
was  as  follows: 


286 

Organ — "Hosannah" Dubois 

Doxology 

Invocation  and  Lord's  Prayer,  Rev.  Harry  G.  Finney 

Festival  Anthem — "Arise  and  Shine" Foote 

Responsive  Reading — Selection  No.  37,  Ps.  100  and  103 

Rev.  John  Edward  Bushnell,  D.  D. 
Apostles  Creed  and  Gloria 
Hymn— No.  58  (Vs.  1,  2,  3) 

"Come  Thou  Almighty  King" 
Scripture  Lesson — Deut.  VHI 

Rev.  Pleasant  Hunter,  D.  D. 

Prayer Rev.  John  Edward  Bushnell,  D.  D. 

Offertory— "Jubilate  Amen." Gelbke 

Male  Quartette  and  Soprano  Solo 
Hymn — "I  Hear  a  Voice,  'tis  Soft  and  Sweet" 
Sermon — Rev.  David  James  Burrell,  D.  D.,  L.  L.  D. 
Hymn  No.  300— "I  Love  Thy  Kingdom,  Lord" 
Benediction — Rev.  Charles  Thayer,  D.  D. 

The  hymn  "I  Hear  a  Voice,  'tis  Soft  and  Sweet," 
was  written  by  Dr.  Robert  F.  Sample;  and  the  music 
for  it  was  composed  by  the  organist  of  his  Church, 
"Westminster,"  of  which  he  had  been  pastor  in  New 
York.  It  was  beautifully  sung  as  a  solo  by  Mrs.  W. 
N.  Porteous,  the  congregation  joining  in  the  refrain. 

Dr.  Burrell's  sermon  was  as  follows: 
"Ye  are  built  upon  the  apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus 
Christ  himself  being  the  chief  corner-stone ;  in  whom 
all  the  building,  fitly  framed  together,  groweth  unto 
a  holy  temple  in  the  Lord." — Eph.  ii.  20. 


287 

We  are  accustomed  to  think  of  Paul  as  a  dry  dia- 
lectician, a  mere  theologian  or  doctrinaire.  It  is  a 
mistake.  He  was  a  splendid  poet  with  an  extraordi- 
nary development  of  the  logical  faculty.  He  could 
handle  a  metaphor  with  as  much  skill  as  a  syllogism. 
Word-pictures  bespangle  his  discussions  of  abstruse 
themes  like  stars  on  a  deep  blue  sky.  • 

He  shows  here  an  acquaintance  with  the  architec- 
tural methods  of  his  time.  He  thinks  of  life  as  struc- 
tural. The  word  edify  occurs  nineteen  times  in  his 
epistles  to  the  Churches.  It  is  cognate  with  edifice. 
Its  primary  reference  is  to  temple  building,  and  hence 
its  application  to  character.  "Ye  are  God's  building," 
says  the  Apostle ;  and  he  is  not  thinking  now  of 
character  building,  but  of  the  association  of  believers 
in  the  Church  of  God. 

The  Christians  of  Ephesus  would  instantly  under- 
stand the  reference.  They  lived  under  the  shadow  of 
Diana's  Temple,  one  of  the  seven  wonders  of  the  world. 
It  was  four  hundred  feet  long  and  above  two  hundred 
feet  wide,  and  was  two  hundred  and  twenty  years  in 
building.  Its  roofs  were  supported  by  sixty-seven 
columns  of  green  jasper,  eight  of  which  may  be  seen 
today  in  the  Mosque  of  St.  Sophia.  Its  altar  was  de- 
signed by  Praxiteles.  Its  walls  were  adorned  by 
Apelles  and  Parrhasius.  Its  sanctuary  was  so  secure 
that  kings  were  wont  to  deposit  their  valuables  there. 
Erostratus  made  himself  immortal  by  setting  fire  to  its 


288 

dome.  Alexander  offered  the  spoils  of  an  eastern  cam- 
paign for  the  privilege  of  inscribing  his  name  above 
one  of  the  portals,  and  was  refused.  The  title  of  Neo- 
corus,  or  Sweeper  of  the  Temple,  was  coveted  and  com- 
peted for  by  various  cities.  The  dome  of  this  magnifi- 
cent structure  was  surmounted  by  an  image  of  Diana 
catching  the  'sunlight  in  her  golden  shield. 

Jn  sight  of  this  temple,  within  the  hearing  of  its 
elaborate  worship,  dwelt  a  humble  body  of  believers  in 
Christ.  To  them  the  Apostle  writes  in  terms  of  en- 
couragement: "Ye  are  the  living  parts  of  a  grander 
fabric,  whose  glory  shall  endure  when  the  walls  of  the 
temple  of  great  Diana  have  crumbled  to  dust.  Ye  are 
built  upon  the  apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ  him- 
self being  the  chief  corner-stone;  in  whom  all  the 
building,  fitly  framed  together,  groweth  unto  an  holy 
temple  in  the  Lord." 

I.     Observe,  the  corner  stone  of  the  Church  is  Christ. 

The  engineers  of  the  Palestine  Exploration  Fund,  by 
sinking  shafts  and  opening  galleries  along  the  walls  of 
the  temple,  came  upon  the  original  foundations.  They 
are  seventy  feet  below  the  surface,  and  rest  upon  the 
rocky  slopes  of  Moriah.  At  the  lowest  angle  of  this 
temple  area  they  discovered  the  corner-stone.  It  was 
four  feet  thick  and  fourteen  broad,  and  its  fine  finish 
was  almost  unimpaired.  It  is  not  improbable  that  the 
prophet  Isaiah  had  this  very  stone  in  mind  when  he 
tittered  the   Messianic  prediction,  "Behold,   I   lay  in 


289 

Zion  for  a  foundation,  a  stone,  a  tried  stone;  a  pre- 
cious corner-stone."  The  first  place,  deepest  down, 
most  rudimental  and  fundamental,  binding  the  walls 
together  and  upholding  the  whole, — this  is  reserved 
for  Christ. 

1.  The  name  of  the  Church  is  eloquent  of  this  fact. 
"What's  in  a  name?"  Everything,  here.  Call  the 
Church  whatever  you  please,  it  is  Christian  above  all. 
Such  other  names,  as  Greek  and  Latin,  Catholic  and 
Protestant,  Lutheran,  Calvinistic  and  Wesleyan,  are 
subordinate  to  that  Name  which  is  above  every  other 
that  is  named  in  heaven  or  on  earth.  All  tribal  ban- 
ners are  furled  under  the  banner  of  the  Lion  of  Judah. 

Here  is  the  touchstone  of  ecclesiastical  legitimacy. 
It  has  just  been  decided  in  one  of  the  Massachusetts 
courts — in  a  case  brought  by  the  Theosophists  to  se- 
cure exemption  from  taxation  on  their  meeting-hall — 
that  an  organization,  in  order  to  be  called  "religious," 
must  show  that  it  believes  in  the  living  God.  But 
with  reference  to  the  Christian  Church  the  lines  are 
drawn  closer  still.  It  is  not  enough  that  an  ecclesias- 
tical body  shall  be  religious  in  order  to  justify  its 
claim  to  the  fellowship  of  the  Holy  Catholic  Church ; 
it  must  give  evidence  that  it  believes  in  Christ,  that 
it  accepts  his  divine  birth,  his  Messiahship,  his  blood- 
atonement,  his  resurrection,  and  his  word  as  law  every 
way. 

2.  Here,  also,  is  clearly  indicated  the  purpose  or  in- 


290 

tent  of  the  Church.  Why  did  Christ  institute  it? 
What  is  it  intended  for? 

It  is  not  a  social  coterie,  though  many  people  make  it 
so.  Neither  is  it  a  benevolent  organization,  though 
the  tendency  of  much  of  the  sociological  discussion  of 
our  time  points  that  way.  The  primary  purpose  of  the 
Church  was  not  charity,  caring  for  the  poor,  visiting 
the  fatherless  and  the  widows  in  their  affliction.  This 
is  incidental ;  vitality  so,  to  be  sure,  but  merely  inci- 
dental to  a  larger,  nobler  end.  Nor  is  the  Church  a 
theological  symposium.  All  Christians  who  are 
worthy  of  the  name,  are  profoundly  concerned  to  dis- 
cover the  truth.  It  is  indeed  the  noblest  quest,  but  the 
purpose  of  the  Church  goes  deeper  and  higher  still. 

What,  then,  is  it?  Its  end  and  purpose  is  to  set  up 
the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ  on  earth.  We  believe  that 
he  came  from  heaven  to  suffer  and  die  for  the  children 
of  men;  we  believe  that  he  rose  triumphant,  and  now 
sits  upon  his  throne  high  and  lifted  up ;  we  believe  that 
by  the  power  of  his  Spirit  he  is  working  through  this 
great  living  organism,  which  we  call  "The  Church," 
for  the  restitution  of  all  things ;  and  we  believe  that  in 
the  fulness  of  time  the  heavens  will  part  asunder,  and 
he  will  come  to  reign  King  over  all  and  blessed  for- 
ever. To  this  end  the  Church  was  instituted;  to  this 
end  its  ministry  was  commissioned,  "Go  ye  into  all 
the  world  and  evangelize ;"  and  to  this  end  the  injunc- 
tion is  laid  upon  all  Christ's  people,  "Let  your  light  so 


291 

shine  among  men  that  they  may  see  your  good  works, 
and  glorify  God." 

What  shall  we  preach  then?  Christ,  and  him  cruci- 
fied Nothing  else?  Nothing  else.  Whatever  my 
theme,  it  must  be  like  a  thoroughfare  leading  to  the 
cross.  "The  Jews  require  a  sign,  and  the  Greeks  seek 
after  wisdom;  but  we  preach  Christ  crucified,  unto 
the  Jews  a  stumbling  block,  and  unto  the  Greeks  fool- 
ishness; but  unto  them  which  believe,  Christ  the  power 
of  God,  and  the  wisdom  of  God."  As  an  ambassador 
of  Jesus  Christ,  my  sole  business  is  to  magnify  the 
Saviour's  name,  and  to  exalt  Him  who  said,  "I,  if  I  be 
lifted  up,  will  draw  all  men  unto  me." 

And  how  shall  Christians  live?  As  those  whose 
"lives  are  hid  with  Christ  in  God."  Our  religion  is 
distinctively  a  personal  relation  with  Christ.  We  have 
accepted  Him  as  the  Jews  in  the  wilderness,  with  the 
hot  virus  throbbing  in  their  veins,  looked  to  the  brazen 
serpent  for  life.  We  have  consented  to  cleanse  our- 
selves from  sin  in  the  fountain  filled  with  His  blood, 
as  Naaman  dipped  in  the  Jordan  seven  times  until  his 
flesh  became  like  the  flesh  of  a  little  child.  We  have 
given  ourselves  to  Christ  in  a  consecration  entire  and 
unreserved,  as  the  magi  laid  their  gold  and  myrrh  and 
frankincense  before  Him.  We  follow  Him  as  the 
sheep  follows  the  shepherd,  as  a  tourist  follows  his 
Alpine  guide,  as  a  child  follows  its  mother,  as  a  soldier 
follows  his  captain  to  the  high  places  of  the  field.     We 


292 

abide  in  Him  as  the  branch  abides  in  the  vine,  so  that 
the  parent  life  pervades  and  energizes  it.  We  feed 
upon  Christ  as  the  Israelites  fed  upon  the  manna  that 
dropped  from  heaven  about  their  feet.  For  so  it  is 
written,  "Except  ye  eat  the  flesh  and  drink  the  blood 
of  the  Son  of  Man,  ye  have  no  life  in  you."  We  re- 
ceive Christ  at  His  exact  word  in  such  a  manner  that 
his  precepts  are  our  final  law;  and  his  promises  are 
like  the  rounds  of  the  ladder  that  Jacob  saw,  on  which 
angels  ascended  with  prayers,  and  descended  with 
blessings  upon  Him.  This  is  the  significance  of 
Christ's  primacy  in  our  ecclesiastical  and  personal 
life.     He  is 

My  Lord,  my  life,  my  sacrifice. 
My  Saviour  and  my  all. 

II.  The  foundation.  The  Church  is  here  said  to  be 
founded  upon  the  apostles  and  prophets;  that  is,  the 
Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  It  rests 
upon  the  truths  handed  down  through  the  apostles 
and  prophets  from  God. 

I  wonder  whether  those  who  are  engaged  in  under- 
mining faith  in  the  Scriptures  are  aware  what  they 
are  doing?  "If  the  foundations  be  destroyed,  what 
shall  the  righteous  do?"  The  only  Christ  we  have  is 
the  Christ  revealed  in  the  Scriptures.  To  impair  their 
credibility,  is  to  impugn  the  only  historical  witnesses 
that  bear  testimony  to  the  religion  of  Christ.  Some 
of  these  destroyers  are  among  the  professed  followers 


293 

of  the  Lord  Jesus,  but  surely  they  do  not  follow  Him 
in  this;  for  He  never  uttered  a  word  in  contravention 
of  the  plenary  truth  of  the  Bible,  but  was  ever  ready 
to  vindicate  and  uphold  it.  "Search  the  Scriptures," 
He  said,  "for  in  them  ye  think  ye  have  eternal  life, 
and  these  are  they  which  testify  of  Me." 

But  how  do  the  Scriptures  serve  as  a  foundation  of 
the  Church?  In  furnishing  all  that  is  necessary  for 
its  organization  and  effectiveness  every  way.  Her- 
bert Spencer  says  that  two  things  are  necessary  in 
order  to  a  working  Church,  namely,  creed  and  cultus. 
The  Scriptures  furnish  the  creed,  the  body  of  truth. 
They  also  furnish  the  cultus,  or  mode  of  worship ;  and 
this  as  given  by  inspiration  is  intensely  simple.  The 
beauty  of  holiness  is  the  service  of  the  heart;  form  is 
relatively  of  slight  import.  "When  I  make  my  pray- 
ers, shall  I  sit  or  kneel  or  stand  upon  my  feet?"  This 
is  precisely  like  the  question  asked  of  Sir  Thomas 
Moore  by  his  executioner:  "Sir,  does  your  head  lie 
right  upon  the  block?"  He  answered,  "No  matter 
about  my  head  so  that  my  heart  be  right."  Let  us 
stand  by  Scripture  in  this  matter  of  cultus,  taking  no 
heed  of  unnecessary  form  and  ceremony;  "for  what- 
soever is  not  of  faith  is  of  sin." 

But  something  more  than  creed  and  cultus  is  requi- 
site for  the  making  of  a  Church.  We  need  a  perfect 
Code  of  Morals;  and  we  find  that  in  the  Decalogue 
and  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount  plus  the  personal  exam- 


294 

pie  of  Jesus  the  ideal  Man.  Also,  a  course  of  action, 
or  campaign  if  you  will.  And  this  is  clearly  marked 
out  in  the  Scriptures.  What  is  the  business  of  those 
who  belong  to  the  Church  of  God?  It  is  to  "seek  first 
of  all  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness."  As 
we  walk  along  the  street,  we  mingle  with  two  classes 
of  people,  who  look  alike  but  are  separated  by  an  in- 
finite gulf;  on  the  one  hand,  those  who  are  absorbed 
in  the  pursuit  of  wealth,  pleasure  or  other  personal 
emoluments,  and  knew  nothing  higher  than  the  things 
of  this  present  life;  who  "forever  hastening  to  the 
grave,  stoop  downward  as  they  run";  on  the  other 
hand  those  who  believe  in  the  coming  of  the  Son  of 
Man  and  mean  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  hasten  it. 
They  also  are  engaged  in  bread-and-butter  tasks,  but 
the  things  of  the  kingdom  are  supreme,  and  their 
prime  purpose  is  to  hasten  its  coming  on  earth  and  in 
the  lives  of  men. 

By  this  it  appears  that  the  Church  rests  upon  the 
trustworthiness  of  the  Scriptures  as  the  word  of  God. 
No  foundation,  no  house ;  no  Bible,  no  Church.  Stand 
by  the  Bible,  therefore,  my  friend,  even  though  others 
malign  it.  They  are  on  the  losing  side.  The  old 
Book  has  stood  like  Gibraltar  for  thousands  of  years, 
and  will  stand  for  thousands  more.  It  is  not  only  the 
foundation  of  the  Church,  it  is  the  hope  of  your  per- 
sonal, eternal  life.  Stand  by  the  Bible.  John  Knox 
spoke  truly  when  admonished  of  the  wrath  of  Queen 


295 

Mary,  as  he  was  going  to  Holyrood  with  a  blue  Gen- 
evan cloak,  over  his  shoulder  and  a  Bible  under  his 
arm:  "All  hell,"  said  he,  "cannot  prevail  against  the 
man  that  has  in  his  left  hand  a  candle  to  illuminate  his 
right."  Stand  by  your  Bible.  Read  it,  pray  over 
it,  love  it  and  live  by  it.  All  dust  is  bad  for  human 
eyes,  but  the  worst  is  that  which  gathers  on  our  neg- 
lected Bibles. 

III.  The  Superstructure.  "Ye  are  built  upon  it ;" 
that  is,  ye  are  the  stones  of  the  temple.  At  this  point 
Peter  comes  to  Paul's  help — as  he  should  indeed;  for 
despite  all  differences  of  temperament  and  culture  they 
were  firm  friends — saying,  "Ye  also  as  living  stones 
are  built  up  a  spiritual  house." 

There  were  wonderful  stones  in  the  old  temple  of 
Moriah.  Josephus  mentions  them  in  his  Antiquities. 
Some  of  them,  he  says,  were  twenty-five  cubits  by 
twelve;  that  is,  forty  by  twenty  feet.  It  would  seem 
incredible  if  it  were  not  that  some  are  still  there.  By 
what  engineering  skill  were  those  ponderous  masses 
lifted  into  place?  Wonderful  stones!  But  the  stones 
of  God's  spiritual  temple  are  more  marvelous,  for  they 
are  endowed  with  life.  "Ye  also  as  living  stones  are 
built  up  a  spiritual  house." 

This  means  that  Christians  must  do  something  more 
than  merely  lie  in  their  places.  It  means  that  Church 
membership  is  more  than  a  name  on  a  roster.  There 
is  nothing  in  the  world  more  lamentable  than  a  dead 


296 

profession.  A  while  ago  our  Navy  Department  sent 
out  a  message  warning  all  outgoing  ships  against  a 
derelict  schooner  which  has  recently  been  seen  drift- 
ing about  in  the  Northern  Pacific.  The  name  of  this 
derelict  is  "The  Siglin."  She  sailed  with  a  crew  of 
eleven  men  and  a  cargo  of  valuable  merchandise.  Her 
masts  are  gone  and,  as  the  declaration  says,  "a  dead 
man  is  lashed  to  her  helm."  Dead  men  down  below, 
dead  men  lying  on  the  decks,  a  dead  man  lashed  to  the 
helm !  What  a  grim  figure  is  there  of  a  Church  de- 
voted to  the  mere  letter  of  truth  or  liturgy  or  ethics. 
Put  over  against  that  picture,  this  temple  of  living 
stones.  "I  am  come  that  ye  might  have  life  and  that 
ye  might  have  it  more  abundantly,"  said  our  Master. 
"And  you  hath  He  quickened  which  were  dead  in  tres- 
passes and  sins." 

The  life  here  referred  to  is  manifest  in  the  relation 
of  the  Church  member  to  Christ.  Every  stone  of  the 
temple  pants  toward  him  as  if  it  had  a  heart  within 
it.  The  bricks  of  the  old  Ninevite  temple  are  marked 
with  the  cartouches  of  contemporary  kings,  but  the 
stones  of  this  temple  have  been  touched  by  the  finger 
of  their  Lord,  thrilled  through  and  through  with  the 
electric  power  of  His  life. 

It  is  manifest  also  in  the  fellowship  of  believers. 
The  stones  of  the  temple  stretch  forth  hands  inwardly 
as  if  to  bear  one  another's  burdens,  as  if  to  lay  a  bene- 
diction each  upon  the  other,  and  all  the  temple  rings 


John  J.  Ankeny, 
Church  Treasurer  Since   1871 


297 

with  their  sympathetic  chorus,  "Blest  be  the  tie  that 
binds  our  hearts  in  Christian  love." 

The  life  is  also  manifest  in  service.  The  hands  of 
these  living  stones  are  stretched  forth  from  the  wall 
outwardly  to  help  a  suffering,  dying  world,  and  voices 
are  heard  calling  from  the  wall  like  voices  of  life- 
savers  on  the  shore  in  a  dark  night,  "Throw  out  the 
life-line !" 

What  a  picture  of  a  living  church !  Every  part  of 
the  structure  palpitates  with  life  and  energy.  Every 
stone  in  the  building  calls  out  to  Christ,  to  its  fellows 
and  to  the  world.  The  voice  of  praise,  the  voice  of 
prayer,  the  voice  of  exhortation  is  here,  and  over  all 
and  about  all  is  the  very  atmosphere  of  heaven,  reso- 
nant with  hallelujahs! 

IV.  And  the  Church  thus  constituted  "groweth'* — 
"groweth  unto  a  holy  temple  of  the  Lord,"  The  word 
is  not  such  as  was  customarily  used  for  a  growing 
fabric;  that  is,  one  which  grows  by  mere  accretion,  as 
thread  upon  thread  in  a  loom,  or  stone  upon  stone  in 
a  building.  But  the  word  has  reference  to  organic 
growth ;  that  is,  of  vegetable  or  animal  life.  The  tem- 
ple is  represented  here  as  growing  because  it  has  life 
in  it. 

The  growth  of  the  Church  is  measured  by  that  of 
the  individual  believers  who  constitute  it.  God's  life 
is  the  germinating  principle.  This  is  the  influence 
referred  to  by  Paul  where  he  speaks  of  the  whole 


298 

body  as  being  "fitly  joined  together,  and  compacted 
by  that  which  every  joint  supplieth,  according  to  the 
effectual  working  in  the  measure  of  every  part,  maketh 
increase  of  the  body  unto  the  edifying  of  itself  in  love." 

But  apart  from  the  growth  of  individual  believers, 
there  is  a  distinct  growth  of  the  mighty  coherent  unit 
which  we  call  "The  Holy  Catholic  Church."  This 
growth  is  History.  The  ultimatum  of  history  is  the 
coming  of  the  Son  of  God  to  possess  his  Church  and 
reign  through  it. 

In  the  walls  of  the  ancient  temple  of  Jerusalem  there 
are  certain  marks  which  indicate  the  successive  periods 
of  construction.  The  upper  portions  were  built  three 
or  four  centuries  ago  under  the  Sultan  Suleiman,  but 
below  that,  and  clearly  separated,  are  other  parts  run- 
ning back  to  the  fourth  century.  Still  farther  down 
are  portions  which  belong  to  the  period  of  Herod  at 
the  beginning  of  the  Christian  Era.  Lower  yet  are 
the  repairs  made  on  the  return  from  captivity;  and 
lowest  of  all  on  the  bed  rock  of  Mount  Moriah,  seventy 
feet  beneath  the  surface,  are  the  foundation  stones 
that  were  laid  by  Solomon.  Thus,  from  beneath,  the 
work  may  be  traced  through  the  centuries  to  the  very 
top  stone  of  the  corner.  But  here  the  analogy  fails, 
for  the  Christian  Church  is  not  completed.  We  note 
a  constant  progress  from  the  beginning,  with  some 
periods  of  rough  work  indeed,  but  never  aught  but 
progress;  nevertheless  we  still  await  the  day  when 


299 

the  top  stone  shall  be  laid  with  shouts  of  "Grace,  grace 
unto  it!" 

In  the  eleventh  year  of  the  reign  of  Solomon  the 
temple  was  dedicated  to  the  Lord.  The  priests  and 
Levites,  with  the  hereditary  heads  of  all  the  tribes, 
assembled  in  the  holy  city.  The  tabernacle  was 
brought  from  Gibeon,  old  and  worn  and  weatherbeaten. 
With  much  pomp  and  circumstance  the  boards  and 
pillars  and  curtains  were  carried  upon  the  shoulders 
of  the  Levites  up  the  slopes  of  the  holy  hill.  Yonder 
came  a  group  of  Levites  bearing  tthe  brazen  altar ;  yon- 
der another  with  the  table  of  shew  bread;  another 
with  the  golden  candlestick  upon  their  shoulders.  Loud 
"Hosannas"  gave  welcome  to  these  historic  memorials 
of  God's  providence  and  grace.  "O  that  men  would 
praise  the  Lord  for  his  goodness  and  for  his  wonder- 
ful works  to  the  children  of  men."  Yonder  they  came 
bringing  the  ark  of  the  covenant,  the  visible  token  of 
the  divine  presence ;  priests  and  Levites  sang  together 
in  welcome :  "Lift  up  your  heads,  O  ye  gates ;  and  be  ye 
lifted  up,  ye  everlasting  doors,  and  the  King  of  glory 
shall  come  in!"  The  choirs  in  the  great  galleries  of 
the  temple  responded  one  to  another:  "Who  is  this 
King  of  glor>'?  The  Lord  of  hosts,  he  is  the  King  of 
glory."  In  the  midst  sat  Solomon  upon  his  throne, 
his  archers  about  him  with  golden  shields,  and  clad  in 
Tyrian  purple.  Then  something  occurred  in  the  midst 
of  the  festivities,  whereat  all  were  instantly  silent.    Out 


300 

from  the  curtain  of  fine  twined  linen  hanging  before  the 
Holiest  of  All  came  a  fleece  of  golden  mist  that  flowed 
outward  and  upward,  expanding  until  it  obscured  and 
enveloped  all.  It  was  the  Shekinah,  the  glory  of  the 
Lord.  Deep  silence!  And  the  king  knelt  with  his 
face  toward  heaven,  and  blessed  the  people.  The  time 
is  approaching  when  Christ  shall  come  in  like  manner, 
appearing  in  the  open  heavens,  and  making  his  influ- 
ence felt  throughout  the  earth,  when  the  great  angel 
shall  proclaim  "The  tabernacle  of  God  is  among  men, 
and  he  shall  dwell  among  them  and  be  their  God,  and 
they  shall  be  his  people." 

Arise,  O  King  of  saints,  arise, 

And  enter  to  Thy  rest : 
Lo,  Thy  Church  waits  with  longing  eyes, 

Thus  to  be  owned  and  blest. 
Enter  with  all  Thy  glorious  train, 

Thy  Spirit  and  Thy  word; 
All  that  the  ark  did  once  contain 

Could  no  such  peace  afford. 
Here  let  the  Son  of  David  reign, 

Let  God's  anointed  shine. 
Justice  and  truth  His  court  maintain, 

With  love  and  power  divine. 

The  Lord  is  in  His  holy  temple;  let  all  the  earth 
keep  silence  before  him! 


301 
THE  SABBATH  SCHOOL  CELEBRATION. 

After  the  morning  service  the  members  of  the  Sab- 
bath School  and  their  friends  attended  a  special  Jubi- 
lee service  of  the  Sabbath  School. 

The  Superintendent,  R.  Burton  Tomlinson,  presided; 
while  upon  the  platform  with  him,  were  the  Pastor, 
the  Assistant  Pastor,  Rev.  Harry  G.  Finney ;  Dr.  Bur- 
rell.  Dr.  Hunter;  three  former  superintendents  of  the 
School,  Charles  T.  Thompson,  Franc  B.  Daniels  and 
J.  S.  Porteous,  and  S.  H.  Findley,  who  had  served  for 
more  than  twenty-five  years  as  an  assistant  superin- 
tendent of  the  school. 

Beautiful  programs  of  the  exercises  had  been  pre- 
pared. Messrs.  Daniels,  Porteous  and  Finney  partici- 
pated in  the  services. 

Mr.  Charles  T.  Thompson,  having  been  assigned  to 
speak  of  the  former  superintendents,  delivered  the  fol- 
lowing address: 

I  am  the  oldest  Superintendent,  in  date  of  service, 
who  is  here  today.  My  good  wife  says  that  she  is  tired 
of  my  passing  as  the  "oldest"  on  this  Jubilee  occasion; 
so  I  will  add  that,  though  I  came  here  a  good  many 
years  ago,  yet  it  is  also  true  that  I  was  put  at  good 
hard  work  for  this  Church  and  school,  while  I  was 
still  not  much  more  than  a  boy. 

The  subject  assigned  to  me  today  is  a  big  one.  I 
am  called  upon  to  speak  for  all  of  the  former  superin- 


302 

tendents  of  this  school.  Their  names  appear  upon 
the  back  of  this  program,  with  the  dates  of  their  terms 
of  service.  I  arrived  in  Minneapolis  to  make  it  my 
home  on  the  first  day  of  October,  1878.  It  was  Sat- 
urday, and,  the  day  following,  I  found  my  way  to  the 
old  brown  frame  church  on  Fourth  Street,  and,  of 
course,  remained  for  the  Sabbath  School  which  then, 
as  now,  followed  the  morning  service.  As  I  sat  in  the 
pew  at  the  opening  exercises,  half  sick  and  one  of  the 
most  lonely  young  men  in  the  world,  a  kind  faced  and 
energetic  gentleman  stepped  up  to  me,  laid  his  hand 
on  my  shoulder  and  said,  "See  here,  young  man,  I  see 
you  are  a  stranger,  and  I  want  you  in  my  class."  The 
gentleman  was  Samuel  M.  Williams,  who  then  became, 
and  whom  I  have  ever  since  been  privileged  to  have 
as.  my  friend. 

He  introduced  me  to  as  fine  a  class  of  young  men, 
as  it  would  be  possible  to  meet  anywhere,  who  all 
joined  in  making  me  feel  at  home.  Mr.  Williams  was 
then,  as  he  is  now,  a  fine  Bible  student  and  excellent 
teacher;  and  my  membership  in  his  class  was  very 
profitable  to  me. 

Coming  here,  as  I  did,  twenty  years  after  the  organi- 
zation of  the  School,  I  was  not  privileged  to  know  all 
of  those,  whose  names  appear  here  as  superintendents, 
though  I  knew  all  of  them  personally,  except  Joseph 
C.  Williams  and  Rev.  Robert  Strong,  who  were  re- 
spectively the  first  and  second  superintendents.     Mr. 


303 

Williams,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Church,  filled  the 
office  during  the  first  three  years  of  the  School's  exist- 
ence. He  is  spoken  of  as  an  earnest  and  efficient  offi- 
cer. His  useful  and  Godly  life  was  ended  September 
23rd,  1877. 

His  successor.  Rev.  Robert  Strong,  was  the  first 
pastor  of  our  Church.  To  the  duties  of  the  pastorate 
he  added  those  of  the  Superintendent,  during  his  en- 
tire connection  with  the  Church.  He  is  spoken  of,  in 
the  highest  terms,  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Two  interesting  circumstances,  connected  with  these 
early  years  of  our  school,  are  of  especial  interest.  The 
Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Pittsburgh,  Pennsyl- 
vania was  about  to  buy  a  new  Sabbath  School  library, 
and  sought  for  some  way  to  dispose  of  its  old  one, 
where  it  would  do  some  good.  Learning  of  this  little 
school  way  out  west,  the  old  library  was  sent  to  it. 
The  Secretary  of  the  School  records  that  the  gift 
was  thankfully  received,  though  the  books  were  so 
coated  with  the  dirt  and  grime  of  Pittsburgh,  that  it 
was  difficult  to  get  the  children  to  take  them  out  for 
reading.  Afterwards,  with  a  big  effort,  the  School 
managed  to  raise  the  sum  of  twenty  dollars  for  a  new 
library.  The  money  was  sent  to  the  depository  of  the 
Board  of  Publication  in  Pittsburgh,  with  the  request 
that  the  money  be  made  to  go  as  far  as  possible.  The 
Secretary  of  the  School,  Mr.  Joshua  Williams,  records 
the  deep  gratitude  of  officers,  teachers  and  scholars, 


304 

because  the  Board  not  only  sent  them  books  for  the  full 
value  of  the  twenty  dollars  but  to  them  added  a  do- 
nation of  books,  worth  at  least  twenty  dollars  more. 
This  school,  therefore,  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  the 
Board  of  Publication. 

Charles  E.  Vanderburgh  succeeded  Rev.  Robert 
Strong  as  Superintendent.  Though  I  never  knew  him 
either  as  Superintendent  of  the  school  or  even  as  a 
member  of  this  Church,  it  was  nevertheless  my  pleas- 
ure and  privilege  to  know  him  as  a  friend  and  as  a 
fellow-laborer  in  other  branches  of  religious  work. 
He  was,  when  elected  Superintendent,  one  of  the  ablest 
lawyers  in  Minneapolis ;  he  afterwards  became  a  judge 
of  our  District  Court,  and  adorned  that  office  for  many 
years;  he  was  then  promoted  to  the  bench  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  this  state,  where  he  served  with  distin- 
guished ability  for  several  years.  Judge  Vanderburgh 
transferred  his  membership  to  the  First  Prestbyterian 
Church  of  Minneapolis  early  in  1878,  and  he  was  a 
member  of  that  Church  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Know- 
ing Judge  Vanderburgh,  as  I  did,  and  knowing  of  his 
record  in  other  departments  of  Church  and  secular  life, 
I  can  well  believe  the  reports  made  to  me  of  his  un- 
usual devotion  and  efficiency  as  a  Sabbath  School  Su- 
perintendent. 

The  immediate  successor  of  Judge  Vanderburgh  was 
Joshua  Williams,  who  had  been,  for  many  years,  the 
Secretary  of  the  School.     Mr.  Williams  served  for  four 


305 

years,  from  1871  to  1875;  and  for  a  second  term  of  one 
year  from  1878  to  1879.  I  knew  Mr.  Williams  inti- 
mately for  many  years,  and  was  under  him  as  superin- 
tendent for  three  months.  He  inherited  from  his  fath- 
er, Elder  Louis  C.  Williams,  a  strong  and  unwavering 
devotion  to  the  truth  and  the  right.  He  made  a  good 
superintendent.  It  always  seemed  to  me  that  the  term 
"Old  Faithful"  could  be  applied  to  him,  for  he  was 
faithful  to  the  discharge  of  every  duty  laid  upon  him. 

Mr.  Williams  transferred  his  membership  to  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  in  1879,  and  was  a  member 
of  that  Church  at  the  time  of  his  death,  a  few  years 
since. 

Between  the  two  terms  of  Joshua  Williams,  the 
School  had  three  superintendents:  O.  V.  Tousley 
from  1875-1876;  Dr.  R.  S.  McMurdy  from  1876-1877; 
and  J.  Hyde  Monroe  from  1877-1878.  It  was  my  pleas- 
ure to  know  them  all.  Mr.  Tousley  was  Superintend- 
ent of  the  Public  Schools.  He  was  a  strict  disciplina- 
rian, and  carried  his  ideas  of  discipline  into  the  Sab- 
bath School.  All,  who  have  spoken  to  me  on  the  sub- 
ject, have  been  warm  in  their  praise  of  his  work  in  the 
School.  He  removed  from  the  city  about  the  year 
1883;  and  died  in  Boston  only  a  few  years  ago. 

The  next  Superintendent,  Dr.  R.  S.  McMurdy,  had 
transferred  his  membership  to  the  Andrew  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  before  I  came  here.  He  has  since  come 
back  among  us,  and  is  personally  known  to  many  here. 


306 

Dr.  McMurdy  is  the  oldest  living  Ex-Superintendent, 
except  Rev.  Robert  Strong,  who  is  residing  in  Pasa- 
dena, California. 

J.  Hyde  Monroe  was  one  of  the  Elders,  who  received 
me  into  this  Church.  I  did  not  know  him  as  an  officer 
in  this  School,  but  I  did  know  him  as  a  warm  friend 
and  as  one  of  the  sweetest  and  most  consecrated  men, 
with  whom  I  ever  associated.  His  life  was  a  benedic- 
tion to  all,  who  knew  him.  I  cannot  speak  of  his 
work  as  Superintendent,  but  I  can  speak  from  knowl- 
edge of  his  work  in  organizing  and  carrying  on  until 
his  death,  the  first  and  most  successful  class  for  the 
Chinese  and  Japanese,  ever  organized  in  this  part  of 
the  country.  In  his  honor  the  members  of  this  class 
furnished  a  ward,  and  have  for  years  maintained  a 
bed,  in  the  Presbyterian  Mission  Hospital  at  Wei 
Hein,  China. 

In  January,  1879,  the  teachers  elected  as  Superin- 
tendent, James  L.  Monroe,  a  brother  of  J.  Hyde  Mon- 
ro'?, who  served,  though  with  many  absences  caused  by 
business  engagements,  until  March,  1881 ;  at  that  time 
his  business  engagements  compelled  him  to  give  up  the 
position  permanently.  At  the  time  of  his  election  the 
teachers  did  me  the  honor  of  selecting  me  as  his  first 
assistant,  somewhat  against  the  protest  of  my  teacher, 
Mr.  Williams,  who  wished  me  to  remain  in  his  class. 
When  Mr.  Monroe  left  in  1881,  I  was  promoted  to  be 
Superintendent.     The  only  teachers,  whom  I  can  see 


307 

before  me  now,  who  were  in  service  then,  were  Mrs. 
L.  P.  Plummer,  Mrs.  Charles  M.  Godley,  Mrs.  Allen 
Hill,  Miss  Francisca  Schaeffer  (now  Mrs.  W.  O.  Win- 
ston), Miss  Kate  Harris  (now  my  wife)  and  Samuel 
M.  Williams.  One  circumstance  made  it  embarrass- 
ing at  times  for  the  young  superintendent,  who  was  a 
little  bashful.  He  was  just  beginning  to  get  very 
much  interested  in  Miss  Harris,  who  was  so  devoted 
to  a  new  hymn  called  "Beulah  Land,"  that  her  young 
friends  had  given  her  that  name.  "Beulah  Land"  was 
very  popular  with  every  one,  and  frequent  requests 
were  made  of  the  Superintendent  that  he  have  it  sung 
in  the  School.  He  often  complied  with  these  requests, 
though  he  never  did  so  v/ithout  having  the  feeling  that" 
some  one  was  thinking,  that  he  had  used  the  hymn  to 
gratify  Miss  Harris. 

At  the  annual  election  of  officers,  held  in  January, 
1882,  the  teachers  did  me  the  honor  to  ask  me  to  ac- 
cept the  office  for  another  term.  This,  however,  I  pos- 
itively declined,  as  I  had  grace  enough  to  recognize  my 
own  limitations;  and  I  did  not  then  believe,  nor  have 
I  ever  since  believed,  that  I  am  qualified  to  fill  that 
important  office  acceptably. 

At  first  the  teachers  were  at  a  great  loss  to  tell  whom 
to  elect;  but  Providence  answered  the  question  by 
sending  to  us  one  of  the  sweetest,  noblest  and  purest 
hearted  men,  I  ever  knew.  I  refer  to  William  M.  Ten- 
ney,  the  coming  of  whom  and  his  lovely  and  capable 


308 

wife  to  this  Church,  was  one  of  the  greatest  blessings, 
with  which  her  life  has  been  crowned.  As  soon  as 
Mr.  Tenney  became  at  all  known,  his  worth  was  rec- 
ognized and  it  was  seen  that  he  was  just  the  man  to 
be  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Sabbath  School.  He  ac- 
cepted the  office,  when  elected  to  it,  upon  condition 
that  I  should  act  as  his  assistant.  Mr.  S.  H.  Findley 
and  I  were  chosen  assistant  superintendents  and  serv- 
ed as  such  during  the  seventeen  years,  through  which 
Mr.  Tenney  was  Superintendent ;  and  dear  Mr.  Findley 
has  served  faithfully  and  efficiently  in  the  position 
ever  since. 

To  my  mind,  William  M.  Tenney  came  as  near  to 
the  ideal  Sabbath  School  Superintendent,  as  any  one 
whom  I  ever  knew  in  the  position.  No  one  could 
have  been  more  conscientious  and  faithful  in  the  dis- 
charge of  the  important  duties  entrusted  to  him;  no 
one  could  have  exhibited  a  more  Christlike  walk  and 
deportment.  It  was  a  great  misfortune  to  the  School 
and  to  the  Church,  when  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tenney  moved 
east  in  1899. 

Now,  I  want  to  ask  you  to  do  something  for  me.     I 
have  prepared  a  telegram,  which  reads  as  follows: 
"William  M.  Tenney, 

Boston,  Mass. 

Westminster  Sabbath  School,  from  its  Jubilee  cele- 
bration, sends  you  affectionate  greetings.  I  Corinthi- 
ans 16  :23." 


309 

Mr.  Tenney  should  be  remembered,  though  he  has 
not  been  able  to  arrange  to  be  here  today.  I  want  you 
to  authorize  me  to  send  it  to  Mr.  Tenney  today  in 
Boston,  to  show  that  we  remember  him  on  this  happy 
occasion.  All  those  who  want  me  to  do  so,  please  say, 
"Yes."  (The  speaker  was  answered  by  a  strong  cho- 
rus of  "Yes;"  and  the  telegram  was  sent). 

When  Mr.  Tenney  left  here,  I  was  promoted  to  be 
his  successor  until  the  next  regular  election  in  the  fol- 
lowing January.  At  that  time  Mr.  Franc  B.  Daniels 
was  elected  superintendent,  and  he  was  succeeded  suc- 
cessively by  J.  S.  Porteous,  Leonard  K.  Thompson  and, 
our  present  Superintendent,  R.  Burton  Tomlinson. 
You  know  them  and  their  good  work  among  you.  All 
are  here  present  today,  except  Mr.  L.  K.  Thompson, 
who  was  compelled  to  go  west  on  business  just  before 
this  Jubilee  celebration  began.  Those  present  can 
speak  for  themselves.  I  will  not  offend  their  modesty 
by  saying,  what  I  could  and  would  gladly  say  in  their 
praise,  or  by  telling  them  how  highly  I  regard  them 
all.  I  will  only  close  by  saying  that  this  school  has 
been  blessed  with  an  unbroken  succession  of  earnest, 
Godly  and  efficient  officers;  and  that  those  in  service, 
during  the  last  eight  years,  have  all  been  worthy  suc- 
cessors of  such  men  as  Mr.  William  M.  Tenney  and 
his  predecessors. 

After  Mr.  Thompson's  address  Dr.  Burrell  and  Dr. 
Hunter  each  spoke  briefly,  but  very  impressively. 


310 
THE  CHAPEL  SERVICES. 

At  three  o'clock  P.  M.  interesting  special  services 
were  held  at  each  of  the  two  chapels,  Hope  and  River- 
side, under  the  charge  of  their  respective  officers  and 
pastors. 

The  principal  address  at  Hope  Chapel  was  made  by 
Dr.  Hunter;  while  Dr.  Burrell  and  Rev.  Ezra  F.  Pa- 
body  spoke  at  Riverside  Chapel. 

THE  SABBATH  EVENING  SERVICE. 

The  Church  was  as  crowded  at  the  evening  service 
as  it  had  been  in  the  morning.  The  order  of  service 
was  as  follows: 

Organ — "Prelude  and  Fugue"  (E.  Minor) Bach 

Anthem— "Awake  Up  My  Glory" Chad  wick 

Responsive  Reading — Selection  No.  33,  Ps.  91 

Rev.  Harry  G.  Finney. 
Scripture  Lesson — Eph.  IV:1-16 

Rev.  Pleasant  Hunter,  D.  D. 
Hymn  No.  303  (Vs.  1,  3,  4,  5) 

"Christ  Is  Made  the  Sure  Foundation." 

Prayer Rev.  David  James  Burrell,  D.  D. 

Offertory— "My  Soul  Doth  Magnify  the  Lord" 

Saint-Saens 
Trio  for  Soprano,  Tenor  and  Baritone 
Hymn  No.  139  (Vs.  1,  5,  6,  7)  "All  Hail  the  Power  of 
Jesus'  Name" 


311 

Sermon Rev.  Pleasant  Hunter,  D.  D. 

Hymn  No.  370  (Vs.  1  and  5)  "Onward,  Christian  Sol- 
diers" 
Final  Word— "The  Soul  of  the  Jubilee" 

Rev.  John  Edward  Bushnell,  D.  D. 
Benediction — Rev.  Pleasant  Hunter,  D.  D. 

The  sermon  of  Dr.  Hunter,  after  a  short  prelude  of 
a  personal  nature,  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  was  de- 
voted to  a  masterly  and  thrilling  presentation  of  the 
interests  of  Foreign  Missions.  As  the  sermon  had  not 
been  written  out  beforehand,  an  attempt  was  made, 
through  the  aid  of  a  competent  court  stenographer 
and  reporter  to  take  it,  as  it  was  delivered.  The  at- 
tempt was,  however,  a  failure.  Dr.  Hunter  agreed  to 
make  an  attempt  to  reproduce  it  upon  his  return  home, 
and  the  completion  of  this  volume  was  delayed  for  that 
purpose.  Unfortunately  he,  too,  was  unable  to  do  so 
as  appears  from  the  following  note  received  from  him : 

Newark,  N.  J.,  Nov.  2,  1907. 
My  dear  Mr.  Thompson. 

I  am  awfully  sorry  to  have  to  write,  that  I  cannot 
reproduce  my  sermon  in  anything  like  a  satisfactory 
way.  I  have  the  outline,  of  course,  but  cannot  fill  it 
in,  as  I  would  like  to  have  it  appear  in  print.  Without 
the  audience  and  the  occasion  to  warm  me  up,  my 
thoughts  will  not  come  as  they  did  that  night.  I  can- 
not tell  you  how  much  I  regret  to  write  this,  and  I  do 
it  only  after  having  given  the  matter  a  week's  trial  and 


312 

failed.     Please  explain  to  the  committee  and  assure 
them  of  my  deep  regret.     With  kindest  regards. 

Very  Sincerely, 

Pleasant  Hunter. 

The  inability  to  include  in  this  history  the  sermon 
of  Dr.  Hunter  causes  keen  regret  to  the  members  of 
the  committee  of  arrangements;  and  in  their  disap- 
pointment every  member  of  the  Church  and  congrega- 
tion will  share. 

At  the  close  of  the  sermon  the  beloved  and  honored 
pastor,  Dr.  Bushnell,  gave  the  "final  word"  on  the 
theme 

"THE  SOUL  OF  THE  JUBILEE." 

He  said: 

I  have  thought  that  the  Committee  made  their  one 
error  in  asking  me  to  say  a  word  at  such  a  late  hour 
as  this,  but  I  do  cherish  this  opportunity  to  say  good 
night  to  you,  to  bid  you  go  forth  in  the  night  to  rest 
and  to  awaken  in  the  morning  with  renewed  vigor  and 
energy  kindled  by  this  historic  celebration.  The  great 
occasion,  that  brought  us  together,  is  passing  and  its 
memories  will  go  down  the  years  of  time  like  music  in 
all  our  hearts.  Everything  has  conspired,  under  the 
blessing  of  God,  to  make  us  realize  more  than  our  ex- 
pectations. When  some  one  asked  me  whether  we 
Presbyterians  claimed  that  this  weather  had  been  fore- 


Rev.  Harry  G.  Finney, 
Assistant  Pastor,   1905  to   Present  Time 


313 

ordained  for  the  occasion,  I  said,  we  were  not  so  lack- 
ing in  modesty  as  to  claim  that  the  laws  of  the  uni- 
verse should  be  suspended  for  us,  but  it  seemed  as  if 
we  might  believe  that  irresistable  grace  had  lead  us  to 
choose  a  time,  when  the  elements  themselves  were  con- 
spiring to  produce  such  blue  skies,  such  crystal  sun- 
.  shine  and  such  autumnal  hues  as  even  Minnesota  her- 
self cannot  surpass.  From  the  beginning  of  that  Fel- 
lowship night,  when  hearts  melted  together  in  prayer 
and  song,  and  as  we  read  the  chapter  of  love,  the  thir- 
teenth chapter  of  First  Corinthians,  and  talked  of  the 
days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne,  we  have  all  experienced  the 
reality  and  joy  of  Christian  Communion. 

On  Friday  night  we  witnessed  one  of  the  most  im- 
pressive events  ever  seen  in  this  city,  when  hundreds 
gathered  for  social  intercourse,  the  fragrance  of  which 
I  am  sure  will  always  abide  with  us.  And  those,  who . 
attended  the  meeting  of  our  good  ladies  and  young 
people  on  Saturday,  and  heard  what  great  things  they 
had  done,  will  always  remember  the  uplift  of  the  in- 
spiring afternoon.  And  who  will  ever  forget  that  fore- 
taste of  heaven  we  had  at  the  sacramental  table  last 
night,  when  so  goodly  a  company  were  welcomed  to 
the  membership  of  this  Church  and  we  remembered 
Calvary  together?  And  this  morning,  surely  our  hearts 
did  burn  as  we  listened  to  Dr.  Burrell  in  that  wonder- 
ful sermon  on  the  Christian  Church;  and  tonight  Dr. 
Hunter  has  inspired  us  with  the  vision  he  has  given  us 


314 

of  the  future  triumphs  of  that  Church.  These  days 
are  golden  to  our  hearts.  God  has  been  so  kind  to  us, 
that  we  almost  feel  like  going  right  to  heaven  from 
these  scenes,  or  at  least  desire  that  they  might  be  con- 
tinued on  earth. 

We  have  had  a  Jubilee  of  Christian  love.  Love  has 
memory,  and  so  we  have  gratefully  here  remembered 
the  fifty  years  which  are  gone,  glorifying  God's  mer- 
cies and  honoring  the  names  and  noble  deeds  of  those, 
who  gave  themselves  to  upbuild  our  Westminster. 
Love  has  eyes,  and  so  we  have  looked  around  us  and 
are  not  forgetful  of  the  needs  of  the  world  that  per- 
ishes for  the  lack  of  the  Gospel.  Love  has  prophecy, 
and  so  we  have  thought  of  the  duties  before  us  and 
the  eternity  of  glory  and  triumph  after  battle.  One 
of  our  Sunday  School  classes  of  boys  a  few  years  ago, 
under  a  wise  teacher,  prepared  a  little  package  which 
is  now  sealed  and  in  a  vault  somewhere  and  it  is  ad- 
dressed to  the  boys  of  just  a  century  later.  It  is  not  to 
be  opened  until  that  year  of  grace.  In  one  hundred 
years  the  then  fifteen-year-old-boys  of  this  Church  will 
be  permitted  to  break  the  seal  of  that  package  and  read 
the  message  from  the  boys  of  1901.  What  would  we 
not  give  to  be  witnesses  to  the  scene ! 

It  seems  to  me  that  this  Jubilee  will  be,  not  a  sealed 
package  to  be  sure,  but  an  open  epistle  to  the  men 
and  women  of  the  coming  centuries,  when  they  shall 
read  of  what  this  Church  has  been  in  the  first  half  cen- 


315 

tury  of  its  existence,  a  testimony  to  the  joy  of  service 
and  the  faithfulness  of  our  God. 

We  cannot  see  into  the  future,  but  we  believe  the 
next  half  century  will  be  a  period  of  love,  sacrifice  and 
loyal  devotion  to  Christ  that  will  make  as  sweet  a 
story  as  that  which  has  been  told  of  the  past  fifty  years. 
I  never  realized  so  much  the  feeling  of  sympathy  for 
Simon  Peter  as  I  do  now.  You  remember  when  he 
said,  "Lord,  it  is  good  for  us  to  be  here,  and  let  us  build 
three  tabernacles,"  etc.,  that  they  might  stay  right  on. 
I  used  to  find  fault  with  Peter  because  he  wanted  to 
have  a  good  time  there,  but  now  I  have  sympathy  with 
him  and  fall  into  his  sin  because  I  realize  it  is  good  for 
us  to  be  here,  and  it  is  hard  to  tell  these  people  to  go 
to  their  homes  and  close  this  Jubilee,  yet  the  parting 
word  must  be  said.  Still  though  the  hour  is  late  and 
you  are  weary,  friends,  there  is  one  thing  we  will  not 
do.  We  will  not  let  this  Jubilee  pass  by  and  have  it 
said  that  this  Church  which  has  been  so  long  faithful 
to  the  cross  of  Christ  closed  its  doors  without  an  oflFer 
of  salvation  in  His  name.  I  ask  you  who  have  not  yet 
tasted  of  the  Saviour's  love,  to  accept  Jesus  Christ  as 
your  Saviour,  that  He  may  with  His  infinite  love  bind 
your  poor  hearts  to  His  and  lift  them  up  out  of  the 
darkness  and  out  of  the  depths  into  His  light  and 
write  His  blessed  name  upon  them. 

An  unusual  circumstance  which  has  arisen  today 
gives  especial  sacredness  to  this  hour  and  lends  pathos 


316 

to  this  appeal.  This  morning  as  I  glanced  over  the 
great  congregation,  down  here  at  my  right  sat  certain 
aged  saints,  while  down  yonder  by  the  door  was  a 
strong  man  who  seemed  to  have  much  of  life's  work  be- 
fore him,  our  dear  Dr.  W.  S.  Laton,  whom  so  many 
deeply  loved.  His  fine  face  seemed  lighted  up  with 
pleasure  in  the  preacher's  message  and  I  said  to  my- 
self "he  will  surely  do  tomorrow  what  he  is  so  apt  to 
do  when  his  heart  is  touched,  he  will  write  a  letter 
about  it."  But  the  letter  will  never  come.  This  after- 
noon the  word  came  to  us  that  he  had  been  called  from 
his  busy  earthly  life,  while  those  who  seemed  to  our 
eyes  so  much  nearer  home,  abide.  How  sad  this  shad- 
ow across  the  day  of  our  rejoicing,  but  how  beautiful 
to  pass  right  out  of  that  glorious  morning  service 
straight  heavenward  to  the  eternal  Jubilee.  It  seems 
as  if  thereby  is  a  new  sanctity  given  to  this  blessed 
day.  It  touches  heaven.  There  is  only  one  message 
great  and  beautiful  enough  to  crown  it ;  "God  so  loved 
the  world  that  He  gave  His  only  begotten  Son  that 
whosoever  believeth  in  Him  shall  not  perish  but  have 
everlasting  life." 

Now  do  you  know  what  the  "Soul  of  the  Jubilee" 
really  is? 

It  seems  so  simple  after  all  that  we  have  heard  and 
yet  I  will  give  it  to  you.  Three  words  will  tell  it — 
"Come  to  Jesus." 

While  the  celebration  of  our  Golden  Jubilee,  as  ar- 


317 

ranged  for  by  the  Committee,  ended  with  the  Sabbath 
evening  service,  yet  it  is  only  proper  to  add,  as  a  part  of 
our  history,  this  note :  Upon  Monday  evening,  Octo- 
ber 7th,  the  Men's  Union,  the  youngest  society  of  the 
Church,  held  a  banquet  in  Donaldson's  Tea  Rooms  to 
do  honor  to  our  pastors  and  our  visitors  who  had  once 
been  our  pastors.  Unfortunately  Dr.  Hunter  had  made 
such  engagements  for  the  week,  in  connection  with  his 
own  Church,  that  he  could  not  remain  for  this  occa- 
sion. 

The  attendance  was  very  large;  in  addition  to  the 
men  of  our  own  congregation,  there  was  a  good  repre- 
sentation of  sister  Churches. 

Among  other  speakers  were  Prof.  Hodgman,  Presi- 
dent of  Macalester  College,  and  Joseph  R.  Keigman, 
Esq.,  who  brought  greetings  from  Plymouth  Congre- 
gational Church.  Dr.  Burrell  delivered  a  masterly 
and  inspiring  address,  abounding  in  wit  and  good  hu- 
mor, but  chiefly  filled  with  words  of  good  cheer  and 
inspiration  for  the  future.  This  meeting  was  a  fitting 
for  the  Jubilee  proper. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

H  Summary  of  the  {past;  anb  an  ©utlooft  to  tbe 
jfuture. 

Westminister  Golden  Jubilee  has  come  and  gone. 
Eager  anticipation  has  culminated  in  a  complete  and 
happy  realization;  and  that,  in  time,  has  given  place 
to  retrospect.  Viewing  the  past  through  the  eyes  of 
retrospect,  we  realize  that  the  half  has  not  been  told 
of  the  faithful  labors  of  pastors  and  people,  during 
the  first  half  century  of  our  Church's  life. 

Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  has  enjoyed  a  his- 
tory of  just  half  a  century.  Her  most  ardent  lover 
would  not  claim  for  her  that,  during  that  time,  she 
has  done  all  she  could;  but  she  has  done  much,  and 
in  the  history  of  what  she  has  accomplished  her  mem- 
bers have  good  right  at  this  time  to  rejoice. 

Starting  with  a  membership  of  only  eight ;  she  now 
enjoys  an  active  membership  of  over  two  thousand,  in- 
cluding about  four  hundred  members  in  her  chapels. 
There  are  also  today  twenty-five  hundred  scholars  en- 
rolled in  her  Sabbath  Schools.  These  figures  make 
this  Church  rank  ninth  in  membership,  among  all  of 
the  churches  of  our  denomination;  and  give  her  the 


319 

second  place  in  respect  to  Sabbath  School  membership. 
During  the  fifty  years  of  her  history,  there  have  been 
received  into  her  membership  four  thousand  five  hun- 
dred and  thirty-nine  persons;  of  these  one  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  sixty-three,  or  forty-three  and  one- 
fourth  per  cent,  were  received  upon  confession  of  faith, 
and  two  thousand  five  hundred  and  seventy-six  or  fif- 
ty-six and  three-fourths  per  cent  upon  certificates  from 
other  churches. 

If  the  wonderful  growth  of  this  city,  by  the  immi- 
gration into  it,  be  considered,  the  proportion  of  those 
received  on  confession  of  faith  will  be  seen  to  be  very 
gratifying. 

During  the  fifty  years  of  her  history  she  has  raised, 
by  actual  contributions  from  her  members,  the  great 
sum  of  $1,138,212.00,  of  which  the  sum  of  $583,070.00 
was  given  for  other  objects  than  her  own  congregation- 
al expenses.  These  figures  do  not  include  the  cost  of 
the  present  church,  as  it  was  paid  for  out  of  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  sale  of  the  Seventh  Street  and  Nicollet 
Avenue  property;  nor  does  it  include  the  moneys  de- 
rived from  the  sale  of  any  other  real  estate  owned  by 
the  Church. 

During  the  fifty  years  the  Church  has  had  six  pas- 
tors, the  first  two  for  very  brief  pastorates,  all  of  whom 
have  been  men  of  ability  and  consecration,  faithful  and 
eminently  successful  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of 
their  high  office.     She  has  had  also  thirty-nine  elders; 


320 

fifty-nine  deacons ;  and  thirty-two  trustees.  Her  pres- 
ent official  force  numbers,  a  pastor;  three  assistant 
pastors ;  twelve  elders ;  eighteen  deacons ;  nine  trustees. 

During  the  fifty  years,  she  has  become  the  mother 
■of  four  churches  and  three  large  missions,  and  has 
largely  assisted  in  establishing,  maintaining  and  pro- 
viding with  suitable  buildings,  many  other  churches 
of  our  denomination  in  this  city  and  state. 

For  many  years  the  elders  of  this  Church  have  real- 
ized that  Westminster,  because  of  her  great  size  and 
general  prosperity,  owed  a  peculiar  obligation  to  the 
weak  churches  of  our  denomination  in  this  and  neigh- 
boring states.  So  realizing,  it  has  been  their  aim  and 
desire  to  render  those  churches  all  possible  help  by 
advice  and  financial  assistance.  Scarcely  a  regular 
Session  meeting  goes  by,  at  which  one  or  more  ap- 
peals for  such  financial  assistance,  to  meet  some  spe- 
cial emergency,  are  not  received  and  considered.  Few 
such  appeals  are  denied ;  none  where  the  cause  is  con- 
sidered to  be  deserving,  and  the  funds  to  meet  it  can 
be  secured. 

For  nearly  twenty-five  years,  she  has  maintained 
two  of  the  largest  and  most  successful  city  missions 
in  the  country;  and  has  there  accomplished  a  work, 
which  is  known  throughout  the  denomination  to  which 
she  belongs.  This  work  she  is  now  carrying  on  at 
an  annual  cost  of  about  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  with 
-the  active  assistance  of  a  multitude  of  her  members. 


321 

Today  this  Church  has  a  property,  consisting  of  the 
home  church  and  two  chapels,  all  of  which  are  ad- 
mirably adapted  for  the  work  which  she  should  do; 
and  they  are,  together  worth,  at  a  consei"vative  esti- 
mate, $300,000.00,  whilst  against  the  church  there  is 
no  indebtedness  of  any  kind. 

The  members,  especially  the  women,  are  well  organ- 
ized for  efficient  work;  and  among  them  all  prevails 
a  spirit  of  unity  and  harmony. 

At  our  head  we  have  a  pastor,  whom  we  love  and 
trust  and  in  whose  ministrations  we  take  great  delight ; 
and  he  is  ably  seconded  in  his  pastoral  work  by  his 
assistant,  Rev.  Harry  G.  Finney;  while  at  the  head  of 
the  work  at  Hope  Chapel  is  Rev.  Alexander  G.  Pat- 
terson and  at  the  head  of  the  work  in  Riverside  Chapel 
is  Rev.  W.  E.  Paul,  both  of  whom  are  doing  excellent 
work.  The  Church  is  officered  by  an  able,  harmonious 
and  efficient  body  of  men  in  each  of  the  three  boards, 
the  Session,  the  Diaconate  and  the  Trustees. 

The  work,  which  God  has  permitted  us  to  do,  dur- 
ing the  first  fifty  years  of  our  history,  has  been  great, 
but  the  possibilities  for  future  work  are  far  greater. 
We  are  rapidly  becoming  a  down  town  Church ;  and 
the  neighborhood  around  us  is  fast  becoming  peopled 
with  a  great  multitude  of  young  men  and  young 
women  in  boarding  houses,  private  hotels  and  apart- 
ment houses.     It  should  be  our  mission,  with  increas- 


322 

ing  zeal,  as  the  years  go  by,  to  go  out  after  these  and 
bring  them  into  the  Church. 

Our  city  mission  work,  the  possibilities  of  whose 
growth  are  so  great,  should  be  made  far  more  efficient 
in  the  future  even  than  in  the  past. 

We  should  become  more  active  in  our  sympathies 
and  more  benevolent  in  our  gifts,  towards  the  great 
agencies  through  which  the  church  at  large  is  seeking 
to  bring  the  knowledge  of  the  Savior  to  the  multitudes, 
in  this  and  other  lands,  who  are  without  a  knowledge 
of  Him. 

Our  sympathy  and  substantial  assistance  should  be 
given  to  the  weaker  churches  of  our  denomination  in 
this  city  and  state.  Above  all  things,  in  this  commer- 
cial age,  we  should  keep  the  lamp  of  faith  burning 
brightly  in  this  dear  Church;  and,  as  a  people,  we 
should  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past,  hold  aloft  the  blue 
banner  of  orthodox  and  evangelical  Christianity,  be- 
queathed to  us  by  the  founders  of  this  Church. 

Above  all  things,  there  should  be  among  us  an  ever 
increasing  sense  of  our  great  responsibility,  a  greater 
spirituality  and  a  growing  willingness  and  desire  to 
have  a  part  in  the  work  laid  by  God  upon  this  Church. 

As  the  historian  approaches  the  place  where  he  must 
write  "finis"  to  this  volume,  there  come  flocking  to 
his  memory  the  names  of  many,  who  have,  in  our  com- 
munion and  fellowship  "wrought  righteousness,"  as 
the  great  Apostle  puts  it,  in  the  work  of  building  the 


323 

walls  of  our  Jerusalem.  In  his  part  of  the  work  the 
historian  has,  of  necessity  confined  himself  to  the 
more  important  and  strategic  events  in  the  life  of  our 
Church  and  to  the  mention  of  those  men  and  women 
who  were  more  prominent  therein;  while  the  good 
women,  who  have  written  of  the  Church's  work,  as 
carried  on  by  them,  have  dwelt  more  upon  the  earlier 
and  latter  days  of  our  history.  But  in  between  these 
periods  there  was  one  of  quiet,  faithful  upbuilding,  car- 
ried on  by  so  many,  most  of  whom  have  left  us  either 
for  other  scenes  of  earthly  labor  or  for  their  Heaven- 
ly reward.  As  the  names  of  many  who  have  not  as  yet 
been  particularly  mentioned,  come  thronging  to  his 
mind,  the  historian  feels  the  embarrassment,  under 
which  the  Apostle  Paul  labored  when  writing  the  won- 
derful Eleventh  Chapter  of  Hebrews.  He  remembers 
such  families  as  those  of  the  saintly  Catherine  S.  Sidle, 
and  of  D.  R.  Wagner,  the  Deacon  longest  in  service  in 
this  Church,  of  Dr.  P.  L.  Hatch,  of  T.  D.  Skiles,  of 
Jacob  Schaeffer,  of  William  C.  March,  of  A.  M.  Reid, 
of  W.  H.  Bailey,  of  C.  A.  Cornman  and  of  many  others, 
whose  names  may  even  now  have  escaped  his  memory, 
who  were  so  interested  in  the  Church  and  its  work  and 
whose  hospitable  homes  were  ever  open  for  its  social 
gatherings. 

As  we  look  back  from  this  vantage  ground  over  the 
past,  and  remember  the  multitudes  now  departed,  who 
have  in  this  Church  accomplished  so  much  for  Christ 


324 

through  their  faithful  service;  as  we  recall  to  mind 
especially  those  consecrated  pioneers,  the  Oliver  and 
Williams  families;  and  the  many  others  who  have 
succeeded  them,  "of  whom  time  would  fail  us  to  tell, 
who  have"  here,  "through  faith  wrought  righteousness 
and  obtained  promises;"  there  must  come  to  us  the 
exhortation  given  to  the  Hebrews  by  the  great  apostle, 
"Wherefore,  seeing  we  also  are  compassed  about  with 
so  great  a  cloud  of  witnesses,  let  us  lay  aside  every 
weight  and  the  sin  which  doth  so  easily  beset  us  and 
let  us  run  with  patience  the  race  that  is  set  before  us, 
looking  unto  Jesus,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our 
faith." 


Hppenbit. 


{present  ©tticers  ot  tbe  Cburcb. 

Pastor — Rev.  John  Edward  Bushnell,  D.  D. 
Assistant  Pastor — Rev.  Harry  G.  Finney. 
Pastor  at  Hope  Chapel — Rev.  Alerxander  G.  Patterson. 
Pastor  at  Riverside  Chapel — Rev.  W.  E.  Paul. 


RULING  ELDERS'. 

J.    E.    Carpenter. 
S.  A.  Harris. 
James   Paige. 
John  W.  Thomas. 
R.   Burton   Tomlinson. 
George  W.  Wishard. 

Clerk  of  Session — Charles  T.  Thompson. 


Charles    S.    Cairns. 
J.   R.   Gordon. 
John  McCulloch. 
J.  A.  Steele. 
Charles    T.    Thompson 
Charles  B.  Tucker. 


DEACONS. 


S.  B.  Burchard. 
H.   L.   Day. 
Wm.    M.    Day. 
E.  W.   Grievish. 
J.  P.   Holliday. 
J.   W.    McDonald. 
Aldis   E.  Sage. 
Frank  E.  Skinner. 
Charles  V.  Smith. 


D.    Draper    Dayton. 
Daniel    P.    Deane. 
Samuel   H.   Findley. 
W.   P.    Moorhead. 
George   E.   Murphy. 
M.  O.  Nelson. 
James  P.  Thomson. 
Charles   Tweed. 
Frederick  Wurtzbach. 


President — M.  O.  Nelson. 
Vice  President — S.  H.  Findley. 
Secretary  and  Treasurer — Charles  Tweed. 


H.   C.   Akeley. 
James  S.  Bell. 
E.  L.  Carpenter. 
A.  M.  Clerihew. 


TRUSTEES. 


C.  C.  Webber. 


William  H.  Dunwoody. 
John  B.  Gilfillan. 
C.  H.  Pettit. 
J.   S.   Porteous. 


Chairman— C.  H.  Pettit. 
Secretary — J.  S.  Porteous. 
Treasurer — John  J.  Ankeny. 


326 


PASTORS  OF  WESTMINSTER  CHURCH. 

Rev.  Robert  Strong,  1862-1865.  Now  residing  in  Pasadena, 
€al. 

Rev.  Robert  A.  Condit,  D.  D.,  1866-1867.  Now  residing  in 
Pasadena,  Cal. 

Rev.  Robert  F.  Sample,  D.  D.,  1868-1887.    Deceased. 

Rev.  David  James  Burrell,  D.  D.,  1887-1891.  Pastor  of  Col- 
legiate Reformed  Church,  New  York  City. 

Rev.  Pleasant  Hunter,  D.  D.,  1892-1900.  Pastor  of  Second 
Presbyterian  Church,  Newark,  N.  J. 

Rev.  John  Edward  Bushnell,  1901- Now  Pastor. 


ROSTER  OF  ELDERS. 


Name. 


Installed.     Termination  of  Service. 


1.  Oliver,  Andrew  W.  Aug.  23,  1857 

2.  Williams,  Louis  H.    Mch  14,  1858 

3.  Williams,  Joseph  C.  Jan.    2,  1864 

4.  Vanderburgh,  Chas  E.  Jan.  2,  1864 


5.  McNair,  Isaac, 

6.  Baird,  J.  A. 

7.  Lee,  R.  S. 

8.  Ware,  E.  K. 

9.  Monroe,  J.  Hyde, 

10.  Brackett,    H.    Hart, 

11.  Dunwoody,   John 

12.  Miller,  A.  R. 

13.  Thomas,  V.  H. 

14.  Thompson,  Chas.  T. 

15.  Knerr,  B.   F. 

16.  Williams,  Stephen  B 


Oct.  16,   1869 

Oct.  16,  1869 
Mar.  3,  1878 
Mar.  3,  1878 
Mar.  3,  1878 
Feb.  29,  1880 
Feb.  29,  1880 
Feb.  29,  1880 
Feb.  29,  1880 
Feb.  29,  1880 
Feb.  29,  1880 
.  Mar.  8,  1882 


Died  1875. 

Ceased  to  act  1878. 

Died  in  office  1877. 

Dismissed  to  another 

Church  1878. 

Dismissed  to  another 

Church  1878. 

Died  1883. 

Died  1883. 

Ceased  to  act  1880. 

Died  1887. 

Ceased  to  act  1895. 

Ceased  to  act  1902. 

Ceased  to  act  1897. 

Ceased  to  act  1882. 

In  service. 

Dismissed  in   1893. 

Died  1894. 


327 


17.  Pomeroy,  E.  F. 
i8.  Hall,  James   R. 

19.  Tenney,  William  M. 

20.  Crombie,  John  S. 

21.  Harris,  S'.  Arthur, 
52.  McDonald,  John  S. 

23.  Thomas,  John  W. 

24.  Prentiss,  A.  G. 

25.  Davis,  Judson  S. 

26.  Miller,  George  H. 

27.  Pabody,  Ezra  F. 

28.  Carpenter,  J.  E. 

29.  Gordon,  J.  R. 

30.  Thompson,  L.  K. 

31.  Tucker,   Charles   B. 

32.  Cairns,   Charles    S. 

33.  Paige,  James 

34.  Hill,  Horace  M. 

35.  Lyon,   Piatt   W. 

36.  Steele,  J.  A. 

37.  Wishard,  George  W. 

38.  McCulloch,   John 

39.  Tomlinson,  R.  B.  Jr., 


Mar.  8,  1882 
Mar.  2,  1884 
Mar.  2,  1884 
March,  1888 

March,  1889 
March,  1889 
March,  1889 
March,  1892 

March,  1893 
March,  1895 
March,  1895 

March,  1898 
March,  1898 
March,  1900 
March,  1900 
March,  1901 
March,  1901 
March,  1902 
March,  1904 
March,  1905 
March,  1905 
March,  1907 
March,  1907 


Died  1883. 
Died  1900. 
Resigned  1899. 
Dismissed  to  another 
Church  1892. 
In  service. 
Ceased  to  act  1901. 
In  service. 

Dismissed  to  another 
Church  1895. 
Resigned  1904. 
Ceased  to  act  1904. 
Ordained  to  Ministry 

1899. 
In  service. 
In  service. 
Ceased  to  act  1907. 
In  service. 
In  service. 
In  service. 
Ceased  to  act  1905. 
Ceased  to  act  1907. 
In  service. 
In  service. 
In  service. 
In  service. 


CLERKS  OF  SESSION. 

1857-....     Andrew  W.  Oliver. 
1858-1864,  Louis  H.  Williams. 
1864-1878,  Charles  E.  Vanderburgh. 
1878-1880,  J.  A.  Baird. 
1880-1907,  Charles  T.  Thompson. 


328 


ROSTER  OF  DEACONS. 

Name.  Installed.        Termination  of  Service. 

Harris,  S..  A.  1875    Dismissed  to  First  Presbyterian 

Church  1876. 

875  Dismissed  to  First  Presbyterian 
Church  1876. 

876  Ordained   an   Elder   1880. 
876  Died  in   office   1900. 
876  Died   in   office    1880 
878  Dismissed  to  First  Presbyterian 

Church  1890 
878    Died  in  office   1906. 
878    Died  in  office  1883. 
880    Ceased  to  act  1891. 
880    Ceased  to  act   1883. 
880    Dismissed  to  a  Detroit,   Mich., 
Church  1881. 
Still  in  service 
Ceased  to  act   1890.        * 
Ceased  to  act   1889. 
Ceased  to  act   1892. 
Ceased  to  act   1905. 
Still  in  service. 
Resigned   1889,  re-elected    1890, 

ordained   Elder    1895. 
Ceased  to  act  1906. 
88g    Ceased  to  act   1892. 
889    Ordained  an  Elder  1901. 
889    Ordained  an  Elder  1901. 
889    Resigned  to  study  for  ministry, 

1892. 
893    Ceased   to   act    1904,   re-elected 

1907,  still  in  office. 
892    Dismissed      to      a      California 
Church  1901. 


2.  Moore,  Charles  E. 

3.  Brackett,  H.  H. 

4.  Gilmore,  D.  M. 

5.  Plummer,    L.    P. 

6.  Lyon,    A.    B. 

7.  Wagner,  D.  R. 

8.  Whittaker,   C.   S. 

9.  Chalmers,   Fred'k 
ID.  Godley,   Phillip 

11.  Lockwood,  W.  W. 

12.  Deane,   Daniel   P. 

13.  Speedy,    John 

14.  Condit,  A.  J. 

15.  Godley,  Chas.  M. 

16.  Rodgers,  Wm.  F. 

17.  Findley,  Sam'l  H. 

18.  Miller,  Geo.  H. 

19.  Bailey,  Wm.  H. 

20.  Jordan,  R.  H. 

21.  Cairns,   Chas.    S. 

22.  Paige,  James 

23.  McWilliams,  D.  A. 

24.  McDonald,Dr.J.W. 

25.  Davis,  Sam'l   M. 


SSi 
881 
883 
883 
883 


885 


Charles  T.  Thompson, 
Elder  and  Clerk  of  Session   1880  to  Present  Time 


329 


26.  Rowley,  M.   D. 

27.  Gordon,  J.  R. 

28.  Lyon,  P.  W. 

29.  Thompson,  L.   K. 

30.  Pabody,  E.  F.,  Jr. 

31.  Strieker,  Geo.  W. 

32.  Tucker,  Chas.   B. 

33.  Tomlinson,R.B.,Jr. 

34.  Forbes,  T.  W. 

35.  Miller,  A.  R.,  Jr. 

36.  Porteous,  J.  S. 

37.  Jackson,  E.  D. 

38.  Sawyer,   W.   L. 

39.  Mitchell,  S.  H. 

40.  Smith,   D.   E. 

41.  Benton,  A.  A. 

42.  Day,  H.  L,. 

43.  Esterley,  R.  E. 

44.  Riheldaffer,  J.  H. 

45.  Smith,  Chas.  V. 

46.  Haynes,  T.  G. 

47.  Nelson,   M.   O. 

48.  Dayton,  D.  D. 

49.  Holliday,  J.    P. 

50.  Day,  Wm.  M. 

51.  Moorhead,  W.   P. 

52.  Sage,   Aldis   E. 

53.  Grievish,  E.  W. 

54.  Skinner,  Frank  E. 

55.  Thomson,  J.  P. 

56.  Tweed,    Chas. 

57.  Burchard,  S.  B. 

58.  Murphy,  Geo.   E. 

59.  Wurtzbach,  F. 


894  Died  in  office  1894. 

895  Ordained  an  Elder  1898. 
89s  Ordained  an  Elder  1904. 
895  Ordained  an  Elder  1900. 
895  Ceased  to  act   1904. 
89s  Ceased  to  act  1906. 
895  Ordained  an  Elder  1900. 

895  Ordained  an  Elder  1907. 

896  Ceased  to  act  1902. 

896  Ceased  to  act   1905. 

896  Resigned  when  elected  Trustee 
1900. 

896  Ceased  to  act  1899. 

897  Ceased  to  act  1900. 
900  Ceased  to  act  1903. 

900  Ceased  to  act   1906. 

901  Ceased  to  act   1904. 
901  Still  in  service. 

901  Ceased  to   act   1907. 

901  Dismissed  to  Grace  Presbyteri- 
an Church  1901. 

901  S'till    in    service. 

902  Ceased   to  act   1907. 
902  Still    in    service. 
904  Still    in    service. 

904  Still   in   service. 

905  Still  in  service. 
905  Still  in  service. 
90s  Still    in    service. 

905  Still    in    service. 

906  Still  in  service. 
906  Still    in    service. 

906  Still    in    service. 

907  Still  in  service. 
907  Still  in  service. 
907  Still   in  service. 


330 


ROSTER  OF  TRUSTEES'. 


Date  of  Election, 

1858 

Joseph  C.  Williams, 

Declined  re-election  when 
elected  Elder  1864.  Died 

1877. 

1858 

Henry  D.  Beman, 

Moved  away  1861. 

1858 

Eugene  M.  Wilson, 

Died  in  office  1884. 

1858 

Wm.  K.  McFarlane, 

Died  in  office  1866. 

1858 

A.  Bradford, 

Ceased  to  act  i86i. 

1858 

Curtis  H.  Pettit, 

Still  in  office 

z86o 

Wm.  P.  Ankeny, 

Died  in  office  1877. 

i860 

H.  G.  Sidle, 

Resigned  1895. 

1862 

James  Chalmers, 

Ceased  to  act  1871. 

1863 

W.  W.  McNair, 

Died  in  office  1885. 

i86s 

John  S.  Walker, 

Ceased  to  act  1868. 

1868 

J.  A.  Ege, 

Ceased  to  act  1871. 

1871 

A.  M.  Reid, 

Ceased  to  act  1877. 

1871 

J.  G.  McFarlane, 

Ceased  to  act  1874. 

1874 

Allen  Hill, 

Declined  re-election 

190I. 

1877 

Wm.  H.  Dunwoody, 

Still  in  office. 

1878 

A.  M.  Reid,  re-elected, 

Declined  re-election 

1893. 

1878 

0.  V.  Tousley, 

Resigned  and  moved  1 

away. 

1878 

J.  B.  Gilfillan, 

Still  in  office. 

1878 

J.  K.  Sidle, 

Died  in  office  1887. 

1879 

Frederick  W.  Brooks, 

Died  in  office  1883. 

1880 

H.  W.  Wagner, 

Died  in  office  1894. 

1886 

George  H.  Miller, 

Resigned  1901. 

1886 

T.   B.  Janney, 

Declined  re-election 

1898. 

1888 

A.  M.  Clerihew, 

Still  in  office. 

189s 

H.  C.  Akeley, 

Still  in  office. 

1895 

Wm.  Donaldson, 

Died  in  office   1899. 

1899 

F.  B.  Semple, 

Died  in  office. 

1899 

E.  L.  Carpenter, 

Still  in  office. 

1900 

J.  S.  Porteous, 

Still  in  office. 

1901 

James  S.  Bell, 

Still  in  office. 

!I90I 

C.  C.  Webber, 

Still  in  office. 

331 

CHAIRMAN  OF  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES. 

Joseph  C,  Williams. 

W.  P.  Ankeny  to  1877. 

C.  H.  Pettit,  May,  1877  to  present. 

SECRETARIES   OF   BOARD. 

Joseph  C.  Williams,  1858-1864. 

Allen  Hill,  1874  to  1901. 

J.  S.  Porteous,  190X  to  present. 

TREASURERS. 

James  Chalmers. 

Isaac  McNair. 

H.  G.  Sidle. 

John  J.  Ankeny,  April,  1871  to  present  time. 

Owing  to  the  incompleteness  of  the  earlier  records,  it  has 
been  found  to  be  impossible  to  make  a  complete  table  of 
the  officers  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

SUPERINTENDENTS   OF  WESTMINSTER   SABBATH 
SCHOOL. 

1858,  April — 1861,  January,  Joseph  C.  Williams. 
1861,  January — 1864,  June,  Rev.  Robert  Strong. 
1864,  June — 1871,  January,  Charles  E.  Vanderburgh. 
1871,  January — 1876,  January,  Joshua  Williams. 

1876,  January — 1877,  January,  O.  V.  Tousley. 

1877,  January — 1878,  January,  Robert  S.  McMurdy. 

1878,  January — 1879,  January,  J.  Hyde  Monroe. 

1879,  January,  1881,  March,  James  L.  Monroe. 
1881,  March — 1882,  January,  Charles  T.  Thompson. 


332 

i882,  January — 1899,  September,  William  M.  Tenney. 

1899,  September — 1900,  January,  Charles  T.  Thompson. 

1900,  January — 1902,  January,  Franc  B.  Daniels. 

1902,  January — 1904,  January,  Leonard  K.  Thompson. 

1904,  January — 1906,  January,  J.  S.  Porteous. 

1906,  January — (In  service),  R.  Burton  Tomlinson. 

The  names  and  terms  of  service  of  those  in  office  from  Jan- 
uary, 1872,  to  January,  1879,  are  here  given  from  the  recollec- 
tion of  those  then  in  the  school,  as  no  accurate  data  are 
available. 

SUPERINTENDENTS    OF    RIVERSIDE    SABBATH 
SCHOOL. 


I. 

A.  J.  Condit. 

6. 

Robert  E.   Esterley. 

2. 

James  Paige. 

7. 

L.  K.  Thompson 
(3d  term). 

3. 

L.  K.  Thompson. 

8. 

Charles  V.  Smith. 

4- 

J.  R.  Gordon. 

9- 

Charles  B.  Brooks. 

5. 

L.  K.  Thompson 
(2d  term.). 

10. 

George  E.  Murphy. 

SUPERINTENDENTS  OF  HOPE  SABBATH  SCHOOL. 

1.  E.  F.  Pomeroy.  5-  E.  W.  Dutcher. 

2.  Theodore  A.  Sammis.  6.  P.  V.  Collins. 

3.  R.  H.  Gordon.  7.  P.  W.  Lyon. 

4.  W.  C.  Wyckoflf.  8.  James  Paige. 

ORGANIZATIONS  IN  THE  CHURCH. 

The  following  table  of  organizations  in  the  Church  is  given 
for  historical  information.  Many  of  them,  having  fulfilled 
their  mission,  have  been  abandoned  or  merged  with  other 
organizations. 


333 

1858 — Westminster  Sabbath  School. 

1859 — The  Sewing  Society. 

1868 — Pastor's  Aid  Society. 

1871 — Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

1872 — Ladies  Social  Circle. 

1873 — Franklin  Avenue  Mission  (now  Vanderburgh  Memo- 
rial Church). 

1873 — Western  Avenue  Mission  (now  Sth  Presbyterian 
Church). 

1873 — Westminster  Mission  Workers  (In  Sunday  School). 

1873 — Cheerful  Givers  (In  Sunday  School). 

1874 — The  Zenana  Workers  (In  Sunday  School). 

1874 — Seek  and  Save  Band  (In  Sunday  School). 

1878 — Young  People's  Social  Union. 

1879 — Westminster  Sunday  School  Foreign  Missionary  So- 
ciety. 

1882 — Woman's  Home  Missionary  Society. 

1882 — Young  Ladies'  Missionary  Society  (now  Missionary 
Guild). 

1882 — Hope  Mission. 

1882 — Riverside  Mission. 

1882 — Lyndale  Mission  (now  Lyndale  Congregational  Church). 

1882 — Daughters  of  the  King. 

1882— Pearl  Gatherers. 

1883 — Bethlehem  Sunday  School  (now  Bethlehem  Presbyte- 
rian Church). 

1883 — Chinese  Sunday  School. 

1883— The  Gleaners. 

1885 — Twentieth  Avenue  South  Mission. 

1886 — Westminster  Missionary  and  Social  Club. 

1888 — Prospect  Park  Mission  (afterwards  called  Farview). 

1888 — Boys'  Missionary  Brigade. 

1888 — Senior  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor. 

1891 — Elim  Mission  (now  EHm  Presbyterian  Church). 

1895 — Intermediate  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor. 


334 

iSqS — Westminster  Social  Circle. 

1906 — Fujiyami  Club. 

1906 — Westminster  Fellowship. 

1907 — ^Junior  Chapter. 

1907 — Westminster  Men's  League. 

ITEMS'  OF  INTEREST  IN  CONNECTION  WITH  THE 
WORK  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

I.    The  Session. 

The  office  of  Elder  in  Westminster  Church  is  not  a  sine- 
cure. It  requires,  and  is  given  by  all  who  fill  it,  a  great 
amount  of  time  and  energy.  The  Session,  composed  of  twelve 
members,  meets  on  an  average,  thirty  times  a  year.  It  is 
thoroughly  organized  into  committees,  to  which  are  entrusted 
the  various  details  of  the  spiritual  work  of  the  Church.  The 
most  important  committees  are  those  for  the  management 
and  control  of  the  work  at  Hope  and  Riverside  Chapels. 
Each  of  these  two  Chapel  committees  is  composed  of  six 
elders,  with  the  Chapel  pastor  and  Sunday  School  superin- 
tendent as  advisory  members. 

II.    The  Diaconate. 

The  Deacons  of  this  Church  are  an  incorporated  body,  and 
as  such  can  hold  trusts  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  the 
Church  and  congregation.  They  are,  and  for  many  years 
they  have  been,  a  very  efficient  working  body.  In  addition  to 
their  other  duties  they  have  the  entire  charge  of  the  ushering 
at  the  Sunday  services. 

III.     Church  Sittings. 

After  years  of  experimenting  with  various  methods  of  rais- 
ing the  funds,  with  which  to  provide  for  the  current  expenses 
of  this  Church,  the  Trustees  have  adopted  the  pew  rental  sys- 


335 

tern  as  best  for  us.  The  main  auditorium  has  sittings  for  a 
congregation  of  1600.  There  is  not  an  undesirable  sitting  in 
the  room.  The  prices  range  from  $3.00  per  annum  upward, 
so  that  it  is  within  the  reach  of  every  one  to  obtain  a  regular 
sitting.  Some  pews  are  reserved  for  the  use  of  strangers, 
while  all  can  be  used  for  that  purpose  ten  minutes  after  the 
opening  of  the  morning  service  and  at  the  opening  of  the 
evening  service. 

IV.    Use  of  Church  Property. 

The  Session  and  Trustees  have  jointly  created  a  commit- 
tee, which  is  at  present  composed  of  Elders  Charles  T. 
Thompson,  C.  S.  Cairns  and  R.  B.  Tomlinson,  Jr.,  Trustees  A. 
M.  Clerihew  and  C.  H.  Pettit,  to  which  must  be  referred  all 
requests  for  use  of  Church's  building  and  property.  They 
are  limited  by  the  inflexible  rule  of  the  Session  and  Trustees, 
that  the  main  auditorium  cannot  be  used  for  any  other  pur- 
poses than  religious  services,  including  weddings  of  members 
of  this  Church  and  congregation.  The  committee  is  allowed 
more  latitude  in  the  uses,  which  they  may  permit  to  be  made 
of  the  other  rooms  in  the  church  building. 

V.    Benevolences. 

The  benevolent  work  of  the  Church  is  under  the  direct  su- 
pervision of  the  Session.  Broadly  speaking  it  consists  of 
money  and  effort  expended  in  causes  separate  and  distinct 
from  the  support  of  the  home  Church.  It  is  impossible  to  es- 
timate or  to  tabulate  the  personal  efforts,  expended  by  the 
members  of  this  large  and  devoted  congregation.  The  re- 
ports of  the  various  religious  and  charitable  societies  and  or- 
ganizations in  this  city  and  state  show,  that  they  derive  a 
large  part  of  their  support  from  our  members.  As  to  the 
moneys  contributed  through  the  treasurers  of  this  Church  or 
reported  by  Church  societies  to  the  Session,  the  financial  re- 
ports show  that,  during  the  past  four  years,  our  benevolent 


336 


gifts  in  money  have  averaged  about  $26,450  each  year,  while 
the  current  expenses  of  the  home  Church  have  averaged  ap- 
proximately $15,600.  Such  results  are  made  possible  only  by 
the  hearty  cooperation  of  all  members  of  the  congregation. 
All  the  accounts  of  benevolences,  administered  under  the 
direction  of  the  Session,  are  carefuU  audited  by  that  body, 
statements  being  presented  by  the  Treasurer  at  every  regu- 
lar monthly  meeting.  Mr.  Charles  V.  Smith  has  acted  as 
Treasurer  of  Benevolences  for  many  years.  He  is  entitled  to 
great  credit  for  the  skill  and  accuracy,  with  which  he  has 
collected  the  subscriptions,  kept  his  accounts  and  presented 
his  monthly,  semi-annual  and  annual  reports. 

The  objects  of  our  benevolence  are  too  numerous  to  be 
tabulated  here.  In  addition  to  many  other  objects,  every 
board  of  the  Church  is  contributed  to  annually. 

VI.     Parochial  Districts. 

The  membership  of  the  Church  is  divided  upon  the  basis 
of  residence  into  twenty-four  parochial  districts.  Over  each 
district  is  appointed  a  committee  of  ladies  of  the  Church  and 
congregation. 

To  these  committees  are  assigned  the  following  duties: 

I. 

To  report  promptly  any  change  of  address  that  comes  to 
their  notice. 

II. 

To  report  any  cases  calling  for  pastoral  visitation. 

III. 

To  report  any  children  born  in  Westminster  families, 

IV. 

To  call  on  and  report  any  Presbyterian  families  moving  in- 
to the  district. 


337 

V. 

To  call  promptly  on  any  new  members  received  into  the 
Church  and  residing  in  the  district. 

VI. 

To  furnish  a  list  of  all  persons  in  their  district  who  can  be 
counted  on  to  do  Church  work. 

The  plan  works  well  and  has  been  of  great  assistance  to  the 
pastors. 

VII.    The  Activities   of  the   Church. 

The  activities  of  the  parent  Church  are  so  varied  as  to 
make  it  possible  for  ever  member  to  find  some  form  of  work 
in  which  he  or  she  can  engage.  Their  character  can  be 
gathered  from  the  preceding  pages. 

The  following  activities  are  carried  on  at  Riverside  Chapel: 
Sunday  Evening  Gospel  Service;  Mid-week  Prayer  and 
Praise  Service;  Christian  Endeavor  Society;  Sunday  School; 
Young  Women's  Missionary  Society;  The  Chapel  Choir; 
Ladies'  Aid  Society;  Daily  Kindergarten;  Mothers'  Club; 
Sewing  and  Manual  Training  School;  Cooking  School;  Gym- 
nasium. 

Hope  Chapel  conducts  the  following  activities: 
Sunday  School;  Sunday  Evening  Worship;  Christian  En- 
deavor Societies;  Mid-week  Prayer  Service;  Young  Woman's 
Club;  Woman's  Association;  Girl's  Chorus;  Daily  Kindergar- 
ten; Boy's  and  Girl's  Clubs;  Sewing  and  Manual  Training 
Schools;  Industrial  School;  Gymnasium  Clubs;  Public  Library 
and  Reading  Room. 


338 
ANNUAL  GROWTH  OF  MEMBERSHIP. 


Year. 

Confession. 

Certificate. 

Total. 

1857 

8 

8 

1858 

.. 

8 

8 

i8S9 

I 

II 

12 

i860 

. , 

^  , 

1861 

3 

10 

13 

1862 

2 

. . 

2 

1863 

8 

9 

17 

1864 

13 

3 

16 

1865 

S 

4 

9 

1866 

6 

6 

12 

1867 

9 

20 

29 

1868 

4 

ID 

14 

1869 

23 

27 

30 

1870 

10 

20 

30 

1871 

6 

13 

19 

1872 

17 

25 

42 

1873 

9 

19 

2& 

1874 

5 

25 

3» 

187s 

S8 

59 

117 

1876 

20 

33 

S3 

1877 

25 

23 

48 

1878 

6 

25 

31 

1879 

13 

57 

71 

1880 

10 

40 

50 

1881 

19 

84 

103 

1882 

S 

46 

51 

1883 

48 

96 

144 

1884 

46 

104 

150 

188s 

44 

86 

130 

1886 

37 

92 

129 

1887 

68 

87 

155 

1888 

74 

125 

199 

339 


Certificate.  Total . 

102  218 

109  196 

80  i6a 

41  70 

82  17& 

los  20s 

50  loS 

43  68 

82  116 

117  176 

77  IS4 

82  IS7 

S7  "4 

45  8s 

74  132 

79  134 

67  157 

97  302 

12  39^ 


1963  2576  4539 

Percentage  of  increase  on  confession  of  faith  43%  per  cent. 

YEARLY  CONTRIBUTIONS  FROM  CHURCH  AND 
CONGREGATION. 

(Fractions  of  dollars  omitted). 

Other 
Home        Foreign     Benevo-    Congre- 
Missions.     Missions.      lences.     gational.  Total. 

1857  No  reports  can  be  found. 

1858  No  reports  can  be  found. 

1859  $20         $205  $225 

i860  330  330 

1861  14         1,10s  1.119^ 


Year. 

Confession. 

1889 

116 

1890 

87 

1891 

83 

1892 

29 

1893 

94 

1894 

100 

1895 

58 

1896 

25 

1897 

34 

1898 

59 

1899 

77 

1900 

75 

1901 

57 

1902 

40 

1903 

58 

1904 

55 

1905 

90 

1906 

205 

1907  to  Aug. 

23rd   27 

340 


Other 

Home    Fc 

)reign 

Benevo- 

Congre- 

Missions. Missions. 

lences. 

gational. 

Total. 

i862 

10 

18 

209 

237 

1863 

5 

20 

37 

436 

498 

1864 

17 

37 

184 

661 

899 

1865 

30 

87 

181 

560 

858 

1866 

32 

85 

100 

2,900 

3,117 

1867 

SI 

92 

603 

2,860 

3,606 

1868 

190 

214 

693 

2,055 

3,152 

1869 

295 

239 

672 

2,800 

4,006 

1870 

260 

227 

711 

2,000 

3,198 

1871 

293 

229 

551 

5,530 

6,603 

1872 

208 

400 

658 

4.038 

5,304 

1873 

384 

506 

644 

3,984 

5,509 

1874 

224 

553 

912 

7,792 

9,461 

1875 

6S9 

336 

1,388 

5,513 

7,896 

1876 

738 

58s 

1,171 

4,300 

6,794 

1877 

S14 

356 

683 

4,375 

5,928 

1878 

500 

346 

909 

4,574 

6,329 

1879 

470 

262 

958 

8,164 

9,854 

1880 

416 

332 

1,117 

15,400 

17,265 

1881 

397 

500 

681 

21,616 

23,429 

1883 

2,788 

804 

1,301 

49,050 

53,943 

1S84 

1,267 

1,046 

8,007 

10,288 

20,608 

1885 

2,814 

1,272 

4,809 

15,500 

24,395 

1886 

3,696 

1,943 

7,283 

37,000 

49,922 

1887 

4,182 

2,820 

i,8iS 

10,728 

19,545 

1888 

8,713    < 

5,010 

40,603 

11,804 

67,130 

T889 

3,637 

3,197 

41,330 

14,153 

62,317 

1890 

3,428 

3,335 

20,845 

15,150 

42,758 

1891 

3,005 

2,707 

18,831 

15,485 

40,028 

1892 

9,030 

2,056 

12,241 

12,000 

35,327 

1893 

9,287 

2,542 

4,045 

13,500 

29,374 

1894 

11,807 

2,509 

5,289 

13,000 

32,605 

1895 

10,200 

1,926 

3,370 

13,844 

29,340 

1896 

7,873 

1,587 

2,434 

12,000 

23,894 

1897 

8,775 

1,918 

2,375 

13,086 

26,154 

1893 

9,287 

1894 

11,807 

1895 

10,200 

1896 

7,873 

1897 

8,775 

341 


Home 

Missions. 

Foreign 
Missions. 

Other 
Benevo- 
lences. 

1898 

10,628 

1,967 

1,886 

i899 

10,231 

1,646 

2,961 

1900 

11,587 

2,162 

11,776 

1901 

9.577 

2,227 

3,427 

1902 

10,087 

2,688 

28,911 

1903 

7,793 

2,296 

32,676 

1904 

10,641 

2,584 

21,459 

190S 

11,611 

2,773 

5,379 

1906 

14,711 

2,727 

7,550 

1907 

14,009 

3,293 

6,062 

Totals 

206,565 

56,092 

323,463 

Congre- 

gational. 

Tota  . 

15,674 

30,155 

15,647 

30,48s 

14,796 

40,321 

13,732 

28,963 

14,741 

56,427 

15,662 

58,427 

15,400 

50,084 

25,823 

45,586 

15,590 

39,578 

i6,i5S 

39,519 

555,142 

1,138,212 

NOTE — The  foregoing  table  represents  only  the  actual 
gifts  of  the  members  of  the  Church  and  congregation.  It 
does  not  include  any  of  the  money  received  from  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  sales  of  real  or  personal  property,  owned  by  the 
Church;  and  so  does  not  include  any  of  the  cost  of  the  pres- 
ent church  building  on  Nicollet  Avenue. 

The  Home  Mission  column  includes  the  annual  disburse- 
ments for  the  running  expenses  of  our  City  Mission  work,  as 
well  as  the  contributions  to  the  Boards;  while  the  column 
"Other  benevolences,"  which  varies  so  greatly  in  amount 
from  year  to  year,  includes  the  sums  raised  from  time  to 
time,  to  meet  special  demands  and  emergencies,  such  as  for 
the  erection  of  the  chapel  buildings,  for  building  and  paying 
the  debts  on  other  city  churches,  for  the  endowment  and 
current  expenses  of  Macalester  College;  and  for  all  the 
boards  of  the  Church  other  than  the  Home  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sion Boards. 

The  amount  raised  each  year,  for  these  purposes,  has,  of 
course,  varied  with  the  peculiar  necessities  and  demands  of 
each  year. 

The  Congregational  expense  column  contains  the  amounts 
raised  for  the  erection  and  subsequent  enlargement  of  the 


342 

building  on  Fourth  Street,  for  the  erection  of  the  building  at 
the  corner  of  Nicollet  Avenue  and  Seventh  Street,  and  for 
the  repair  of  our  present  building  after  the  cyclone  in  1905. 
This  division  of  funds  follows,  as  nearly  as  possible,  the 
plan  adopted  by  the  General  Assembly.  Taking  the  figures, 
as  they  appear  in  these  tables,  it  will  be  seen  that,  of  the  en- 
tire amount  raised,  fifty-one  and  one-third  per  cent  was  used 
for  other  than  congregational  expenses;  or,  if  the  amounts 
used  in  erecting  or  rebuilding  the  first  and  second  church 
buildings,  are  eliminated  from  congregational  expenses,  the 
proportion  of  money  raised  used  for  benevolent  purposes  is 
increased  to  fifty-seven  and  two-thirds  per  cent;  or  again, 
if  the  money,  expended  for  those  church  buildings,  is  added 
to  the  column  of  other  benevolences,  the  proportion  of 
money  raised,  which  has  been  used  for  other  than  our  con- 
gregational expenses,  is  increased  to  sixty-two  and  one-third 
per  cent. 

CHRONOLOGICAL    HISTORY. 

1857.  August  23rd,  Church  organized  by  the  Presbytery  of 

St.  Paul. 
"       August    23rd,    Andrew    W.    Oliver    installed    the    first 

elder. 
"       December  6th,   Rev.   Benjamin   Dorrance  became  first 

regular  supply. 

1858.  March  14th,  Louis  H.  Williams,  installed  as  Elder. 

"  April  6th,  Church  incorporated  under  the  name  of 
"The  Trustees  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Minneapolis." 

"       April  i8th,  services  of  Rev.  Mr.  Dorrance  terminated. 

"       April  25th,  Sabbath  School  organized. 

"       April  26th,  Rev.  Levi  Hughes  became  regular  supply. 

1859.  The  Sewing  Suciety,  the  first  women's  society,  organ- 

ized. 


343 

i86o.  April  ..,  Services  of  Rev.  Mr.  Hughes  terminated. 

"  May  ..,  Rev.  James  McKee  became  regular  supply. 

"  December,  Services  of  Rev.  Mr.  McKee  terminated. 

1861.  March  15th,  First  Church  building  dedicated.  Total  cost 

$1,962.00.    Of  this  sum  $500.00  was  a  grant  from  the 
Board  of  Church  erection  and  the  balance  was  large- 
ly given  by  Eastern  Presbyterians. 
i86i.    October   27th,    Rev.    Robert    Strong    became    regular 
supply. 

1862.  October  29th,  Rev.  Robert  Strong  installed  as  pastor. 

1863.  December  20th,  C.  E.  Vanderburgh  and  J.  C.  Williams 
ordained  and  installed  as  elders. 

1864.  May  2ist,  Rev.  Robert  A.  Condit  became  regular  sup- 

ply during  the  absence  of  the  pastor,  occasioned  by 
his  illness. 

1865.  April  26th,  Pastoral  relation  between  the  Church  and 
Rev.  Robert  Strong  dissolved. 

1866.  June  ..,  Rev.  Robert  A,  Condit  installed  as  pastor. 
1866.    June   ..,  The  Church  for  the  first  time  became  self- 
supporting. 

1866.  October  ..,  Church  building  enlarged. 

1867.  December  24th,  Pastoral  relation  between  the  Church 

and  Rev.  Robert  A.  Condit  dissolved. 

1868.  January  27th,  Rev.  Robert  F.  Sample  called  as  pastor. 
"    March  ist.  Rev.  Robert  F.  Sample  began  his  labors  in 

the  Church. 
"       April  i6th,  Rev.  Robert  F.  Sample  installed  as  pastor. 
"       May  26th,  Pastor's  Aid  Society  organized. 

1870-1871  Church  again  enlarged  and  pews  cushioned. 

1871.    February   6th,   Woman's    Foreign   Mssionary    Society 
organized. 

1871.    April  24th,  John  J.  Ankeny  elected  Treasurer  of  the 
Trustees. 

1873-    January    ..,   Franklin  Avenue   Mission    (now  Vander- 
burgh   Memorial    Church)    organzed.     Western   Ave- 


344 

nue    Mission    (now    Fifth    Presbyterian   Church)    or- 
ganized. 

1873    April  24th,  Commencement  of  fiscal  year  changed  from 
January  ist,  to  April  1st. 

1875.     March    13th,   First  official  action,  looking  toward  the 
erection  of  a  new  church,  taken  by  the  congregation. 
"       April  1st,  Elder  Andrew  W.  Oliver  died. 
"       April  2d,  Trustees  definitely  authorized  by  congrega- 
tion to  erect  a  new  church  building. 

1875    April  2nd,  S.  A.  Harris  and  Charles  E.  Moore  elected 
the  first  deacons. 

1877.  September  23rd,   Elder  Joseph   C.   Williams  died. 

1878.  January  25,  Pew  Rental  system  again  adopted. 

1878.     April    . .,   Rotary  system  of  electing  elders  and  dea- 
cons adopted. 
"      Ground  purchased  on   corner  of  Nicollet  Avenue   and 
Seventh  Street  for  new  building. 

1880.    July  13th,  Corner  stone  of  new  church  laid. 

1882.    Woman's  Home  Missionary  Society  organized. 

1882.  January  4th,   Hope   Mission   established  by  action   of 

the  Session. 
"      April   ..,  Woman's  Presbyterian  Board  of  Missions  of 

the  Northwest  met  in  Minneapolis. 
"       August   10,   First  service  held  in  lecture  room  of  the 

new  church. 
"       June  12,  Riverside  Mission  organized. 
"      October    . .,   Young   Ladies'    Missionary   Society    (now 

Westminster  Missionary  Guild)  organized. 

1883.  January   . .,  Bethlehem  Sabbath  School  (now  Bethle- 

hem Presbyterian  Church)  organized. 
"       March  11,  New  Church  dedicated. 

1884.  April  28,  Woman's  Kindergarten  and  Industrial  Asso 

ciation  organized. 

1886.     May    ..,  The   General  Assembly  met  in  Westminster 
Church. 


345 

i886,     December  23rd,  Resignation  of  Dr.  Sample  presented 

to  the  congregation. 
1887.    February  24th,  Pastoral  relation  of  Dr.  Sample  with 

Church  dissolved. 
"        September    15th,   Rev.    David   James    Burrell,    D.    D., 

called  as  pastor. 
1887.    October  26th,  Dr.  Burrell  installed  as  pastor. 
1891.    April  2nd,  Dr.  Burrell  resigned  as  pastor. 

1891.  May  I,  Pastoral  relation  of  Dr.  Burrell  with  Church 

dissolved. 

1892.  April   2ist,   Rev.    Pleasant   Hunter,   D.    D.,   called   as 

pastor. 
1892.    November  nth,  Dr.   Hunter  installed  as  pastor. 
1895.     September  6th,  Church  destroyed  by  fire. 

1895.  November  12th,  Westminster  Social  Circle  organized. 

1896.  April  6th,   Congregation  authorized  the  erection  of  a 

building  on  a  new  site  and  elected  a  building  com- 
mittee. 

1896.  June  iith.  Lot  corner  of  12th  Street  and  Nicollet  Ave- 
nue purchased. 

1896.    July  13th,  Contract  for  new  building  signed. 

1896.    July  27th,  Ground  broken  for  new  building. 

1896.  October  6th,  Corner  stone  laid. 

1897.  March  4th,   First  prayer  meeting  held  in   Chapel  of 

new  building. 
1897.    March  7th,  First  preaching  service  in  Chapel. 

1897.  November  7th,  First  service  in  auditorium. 

1898.  February  isth,  Church  dedicated. 

1899.  May  ..,  General  Assembly  again  met  in  Westminster 

Church. 

1900.  January,  Dr.  Hunter  resigned  as  pastor. 

1900.  July  I,  Pastoral  relation  of  Dr.  Hunter  dissolved. 

1901.  January   21st,    Rev.   John    Edward    Bushnell,    D.    D., 

called  as  pastor. 
1901.    March  6th,  Dr.  Bushnell  installed  as  pastor. 


346 


igoi.  April  ..,  Allen  Hill  for  27  years  a  trustee  and  secre- 
tary of  the  Board,  declined  re-election. 

1903.  Dec.  20th,  new  Hope  Chapel  dedicated. 

1904.  August  20th,  Main  auditorium  partially  destroyed  by 

cyclone  at  a  financial  loss  of  $12,000.00. 

1905.  November   ..,  Church  engaged  in  simultaneous  evan- 

gelistic campaign,  under  the  leadership  of  Rev.  J. 
Wilbur  Chapman,  D.  D. 

1907.  March,  Men's  League  organized  as  a  branch  of  Pres- 
byterian Brotherhood. 

1907.    August  23rd,  Westminster  Church  fifty  years  old. 

1907.  October  3-6,  The  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  Church 
celebrated. 


1Int)ei:» 

Illustrations: 

Ankeny,  John  J 297 

Bushnell,  John  Edward,  D.  D 265 

Burrell,  David  James,  D.  D 169 

Condit,  Robert  A.,  D.  D 1Z 

Finney,  Rev.  Harry  G Z'^'i 

First   Church    Edifice 89 

Fletcher's   Hall 33 

Free  Will  Baptist  Church I7 

Hope  Chapel 281 

Hunter,  Pleasant,  D.  D 201 

Interior  of  Present  Church  Building 217 

Minneapolis   in   1857 Frontispiece 

Oliver,  Andrew  W Facing  Title  Page 

Pettit,  Curtis  H.,  and  Deborah  M.  Pettit,  his  wife 41 

Pulpit  of  First  Church  Edifice 105 

Pulpit  and  Organ  Loft  of  Second  Church  Edifice 153 

Riverside    Chapel 249 

Sample,  Robert  F.,  D.  D 121 

Second  Church  Edifice I37 

Strong,  Rev.  Robert 57 

Tenney,  William  M 233 

Thompson,   Charles   T 329 

Westminster   Presbyterian   Church 185 

Williams,  Elder  Joseph  C 25 

Williams,   Louis   H 9 

Woodmen's    Hall 49 


348 

Activities  of  Church  and  Chapels 337 

Adams,  Rev.  R.   N 69,  247 

Akeley,   H.    C ..68,82 

Anderson,    John 249 

Ankeny,  John  J 27,  129,  199,  204,  250 

Ankeny,   Wilh'am    P 14,  19,  199,  22"] 

Ankeny,  Mrs.  William  P 224,  227,  239 

Archibald,    Miss    Sarah 142,  242 

Baker,  Miss  Eliza  W 143,151,165,167,220,252 

Bcatty,  Rev.  W.  F! 50 

Beaven,   Samuel   H • 124 

Beman,   H.    D 6,126 

Beman,  Mrs.  H.  D 224 

Benevolences  of  Church 335 

Best,  Mrs.  Eugene  N 259 

Benson,  Rev.  A.  W 95 

Bethany  Presbyterian  Church 98 

Bethlehem  Presbyterian   Church 96 

Bissell,  Miss   Edna 145,  244,  254 

Black,  John  1 226 

Blake,   David 96 

Blake,    George .96 

Brackett,   H.    H 41,285 

Bradford,  A 6, 40 

Bradford,  Mrs.  A 249 

Brooks,  C.  B 102 

Brooks,   Frederick   W • 52 

Brown,  Rev.  E.  W • 122 

Bunce,  Mrs.  A.  P • 133 

Burd,  Mrs.  Henrietta 199,  227,  239 

Burnett,  Mrs.  H.   L • 148 

Burrell,    Rev.    David   J. . .  60,  62,  63,  74,  'JT,  114,  184,  208,  249,  283, 
284,  285,  301. 

Burrell,  Rev.  David  J.,  called 60 

Installed   60 


349 

Resigned     60 

Burrell,  Mrs.  D.  J • 275 

Burrell,  Rev.  DeForest  F 115 

Bushnell,  Rev.  J.  E 83,84,86,117,182,275,301,311 

Called    84 

Installed  86 

Bushnell,  Mrs.  J.  E • 275 

Bushnell,  Rev.  Henry  E 86 

Byron  &  Willard 176 

Cairns,    Chas.    S 61,  95,  285 

Caldwell,  Rev.  J.  C 2 

Campbell,  Rev.  Graham  C 141, 149 

Carpenter,  E.  L • 82 

Carpenter,   J.    E 285 

Chalmers,    Mrs.    Frederick 227,  239,  249 

Chalmers,  Mrs.  Eliza   (James) 224,227,239,249 

Chapel  Work,  Plan  of 102 

Chapel  Building — Hope — View   of 281 

Chapel  Building — Riverside — View    of 249 

Chapman,  Rev.  J.  Wilber • 88 

Charles,  Miss  Mary • 234,  235 

Christiansen,  Rev.   C.   C 122 

Christian  Endeavor  Society  (Senior) 169,  270 

Christian  Endeavor  Society   (Intermediate) 170,272 

Church  Property,  Use  of 335 

Church  of  the  Redeemer 63 

Clerihew,  A.   M 285 

Clerihew,  Mrs.  A.  M 155 

Condit,    Rev.    Robert    A. .  17,  18,  20, 108, 127, 180, 191,  201, 5228, 
236,  282. 

Condit  A.  J loi,  159 

Congdon,  Miss  Jennie 270 

Cotton,  Mrs.  Martha  M 133 

Cresswell,    Rev.    Thaddeus   T 63 


350 

Crombie,  John  S 6i 

Curtis,  Rev.  Charles  H 119,  270 

Cuyler,  Rev.  Theodore  L 117 

Daniels,    Franc    B 82,  loi,  131,  301,  309 

Daughters  of  the  King 166,  269 

Davis,  Mrs.  S.  M 157,  264 

Dayton,  George    D 64,  66 

Deacons — First    election 43 

Roster    of 328 

Present   Board 325 

Work  of 334 

Detroit,   Westminster    Church    of 175 

Donaldson,  Rev.  John  B 51,63 

Donaldson,   Mrs.    Mary  Sample 193 

Donaldson,    William 68,  150 

Donaldson,  Mrs.  William 150 

Dorrance,  Rev.  Benjamin 7,  8,  188,  282 

Dunwoody,    John 285 

Dunwoody,  W.   H 41,  52 

Ege,  Mrs.  Etta 224 

Elders — First    Election 6 

Second   Election 9 

Third    Election 16 

Rotary  System  Adopted 45 

Roster  of 326 

Present  Board 325 

Work    of 334 

Elim  Presbyterian  Church 95 

Esterly,  R.  E 102 

Evans,  O.J 199,  250 

Faries,  Mrs.  I.  C 138,  155,  243,  266 

Faries,  Miss  Anne 252 

Faries,  Rev.  John  C 69,  122 

Faries,  William  R 138,  142,  242 


351 


Farnsworth,    Ezra 6l 

Farrington,   S'.    P 60,  loi 

Farrington,  Mrs.  S.  P 150,  158,  159,  245,  265 

Farview    Chapel 95 

Findley,  S.   H 130,  131,  301 

Finney,  Rev.  Harry  G 120,  185,  273,  285,  301 

Fifth    Presbyterian    Church 90 

First  Baptist  Church 64,  65 

First  Presbyterian  Church 63 

Fourth  Street  Church — Begun    14 

Enlarged    19 

Sold     53 

Vacated    53 

Fujiyanii    Club 171 

Gardner,   H.    B lOl 

General    Assembly 57,  77 

George,    Julia 267 

Gilchrist,  Rev.  Neil  H 122 

Gilfillan,    John    B 40,  52,  172,  177 

Jubilee    Address 177 

Gilfillan,  Mrs.  Bessie  O ". 141 

Gilmore,  D.  M 249 

Gleaners,   The 168,  267 

Godley,  Charles  M 199 

Godley,  Mrs.  C.  M 133,  150,  207,  229,  237,  307 

Godley,  Mrs.  Phillip 199,  253 

Gordon,  John  R 68,78,82,  101,285 

Gowdy,  A.  C 126 

Gowdy,  Miss   Eliza 224 

Grace  Presbyterian  Church 98 

Grand  Opera  House 63 

Greenlee,  Rev.  T.  B ; 120 

Guild,  Westminster  Missionary 151 

Guilmant,    Alexander 'jj 


352 

Hahn,  W.   J 68 

Hall,  J.   R 59,  209 

Hall,  Mrs.  J.   R 142 

Hall,  J.  C 78 

Hamer,   Mrs.    Collins 224 

Handyside,  Rev.  John 121 

Hamilton,  Miss  Jean loi 

Harris,   S.   A 40,  43,  68,  82,  199,  285 

Harris,  Mrs.  M.  M 142,  147,  149,  155,  243,  246,  266 

Hay,  Rev.  L.  G 15 

Hayes,  W.  H 68 

Hays,   Miss   Catherine 229 

Heffelfinger,  Major  C.   B 199 

Hefifelfinger,  Mrs.  C.  B 251 

Henderson,  Mrs.  A.  M 155.  266 

Highland    Park    Church 96,  97 

Hill,    Allen 52,  59,  61,  68, 87,  201 

Hill,  Mrs.  Allen 251,307 

Hill,  H.  M 129,  285 

Hope    Mission 91,  98 

Chapel    Superintendents 332 

House  of  Faith  Presbyterian  Church 98 

Hughes,  Rev.   Levi 10, 188,  222,  282 

Hunter,  Rev.  Pleasant.  .61,  69,  78, 116, 184,  213,  283,  284,  301,  311 

Installation  of 62 

Resignation    of 79 

Hunter,  Mrs.  Pleasant 163,  255,  275 

Incorporation  of  Church 6 

Jackson,  Rev.  Sheldon 21 

Janney,    T.    B 59,  61,  68,  92, 129,  250 

Janney,  Mrs.  T.  B 147,  150, 151, 165,  251,  253 

Johnson,  Rev.  Herrick 54 

Jubilee,  General  Arrangements  of 172 


353 

Jubilee,  Fellowship   Meeting 176 

Jubilee    Chapel    Services 310 

Jubilee    Reception 219,220 

Jubilee    Sabbath 285 

Jubilee  Sabbath  School  Celebration 301 

Jubilee   Sacrament 280 

Jubilee  Women's  and  Young  People's  Celebration 220 

Junior   Chapter 171,  273 

Kenyon,  Miss  E.  E 146, 150, 155 

Kerr,  Rev.  A.  H 2 

Kirkwood,  Mrs.  W.  P 253 

Kindergarten  and  Industrial  Society 154,  260 

Laton,  W.   S' 316 

Ladies  Aid  Society 135 

Lee,  R.  S 45 

Leighton,   H.   N 68 

Linn,  Mrs.  J.  J 134,  220,  224,  239,  280 

Logan,  Miss  M.  E 149 

Longbrake,  Mrs.  L.  L 254 

Lyndale   Congregational   Church 96,  97 

Lyon,  Rev.  D.  C 20 

Lyon,  Piatt  W loi,  285 

Mackay,  Miss  Collie 137 

Maltby,  Rev.   H 2,  5,  281 

Mateer,   Mrs.   Robert 142,  242 

Mather,    Miss    Ellen 102 

Membership,  Growth  of  Annually 338 

Men's   Union 89,  317 

Merriam  Park  Presbyterian  Church 96,  98 

Miller,   A.   R 92,96,101,285 

Miller,    George    H 59,  61,  68,  91,  92,  95,  96,  loi,  285 

Miller,  Mrs.  George  H 133, 155,  220,  275 

Mission  Chapels,  Plan  of  Operation  of 102 


354 

Missionary  Guild,  The  Westminster 151 

Mitchell,   Ethel 269 

Moles,  Mrs.  Emily  J 159,  162 

Moles,   E.  J 129 

Monroe,    J.    Hyde 45,  131,  142,  305,  306 

Monroe,  James   L 130,  306 

Moore,  Charles  E 43 

Morgan,    Mrs.    A.    C.  .9,  125,  143,  146,  150,  155,  223,  224,  227,  239, 
240,  249,  266,  282. 

Morrison,  Robert  G 102 

Morse,  Mrs.   Susan   H 156,  160,  263 

Mullin,   Miss   Hannah, 126,  224 

Mullin,   Miss   Maggie 224 

Murphy,  George  E loi 

Myongo,  Rev.   Frank 139,  243 

McCaslin,  Mrs.  Maggie  Mullin 227 

McCray,   Miss 156 

McCulloch,    John 285 

Mclntyre,  Miss  M.   Eva loi,  156 

McKee,  Rev.  J.  A 13,  188,  282 

McFarlane,  W.  K 6 

McFarlane,  Mrs.  John   G 224,  226,  239 

McKnight,  S.  L 68 

McLain,  Samuel 198 

McLain,  Mrs.  Samuel 198,  224 

McMurdy,   R.   S 31,  305 

McMurdy,    Katharine 272 

McNair,    Isaac    3i,  45 

McNair,    W.    W 9,  41,  52,  125,  129,  135,  207,  226 

McNair,  Mrs.  W.  W 126,  224,  227 

Neill,  Rev.  Samuel  G 121 

Nicol,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Van  Cleve 145,  245 

Northway,  Mrs.  W.  P 155 


355 

Oliver,  Andrew  W 5,  39,  206,  227,  230,  282 

Oliver,  Sarah   E 5,  39,  97,  141,  225 

Oliver   Presbyterian    Church 96,  98 

Organization   of   Church 5 

Organizations  in  Church,  List  of 332 

Pastors,  List  of  Present 325 

Pastors,  Former  and  Present. .  .326 

Pabody,  Rev.  Ezra  E 59,  61,  122,  159,  196,  197 

Pabody,  Mrs.   E.  E 157,  220 

Pabody  &  Whittaker 200 

Paige,  James 82,  loi,  285 

Paige,  Rev.  James  A 218 

Parochial    Districts 336 

Patterson,  Rev.  A.  G 119,  122,  270 

Paul,  Rev.  W.  E 124,  321 

Pearl    Gatherers 167,  266 

Pettit,    Curtis    H 6,  31,  41,  52,  68,  173,  179,  224 

Pettit,  Mrs.  Deborah  M.   (C.   H.) 5,179,227,238,249,282 

Phillips,    Harry   E 187 

Pittsburgh,  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of 126 

Plum,  Mrs.  Mary 156,  263 

Plummer,    L.    P 41, 129 

Plummer,  Mrs.   Kate  B.   (L.  P.) 133,146,165,307 

Plymouth  Congregational  Church 63 

Pomeroy,  E.  E 91,  loi 

Pomeroy,  Mrs.  E.  E 131,  133,  146,  151,  156,  246,  253,  283 

Porteous,   James    S 82,  131,  301,  309 

Porteous,   Mrs.   W.    N 286 

Prentiss,   A.    G 61,  131 

Publication,    Board    of 126 

Ramsey,  Mrs.  B.  C 28,140,165 

Reid,    A.   M 41,52 

Rice,   Rev.    Daniel 50 


356 

Riheldaffer,  Rev.  J.   G 2,  5,  14,  i8,  281 

Riverside    Chapel 93 

Superintendents    of 332 

Rockey,    Mrs.    Ann 225 

Rodgers,  W.  F 91 

Rodgers,  Mrs.  W.  F 146,  155 

Seventh   Street  Church — Begun    49 

— Corner  Stone  Laid 50 

— Dedicated    54 

— Burned    62 

Sittings  in  Church,  Regulation  of 334 

Sabbath    Schools 125 

Superintendents    of 331 

Sample,   Rev.    Robert   F. .  .4,  20,  40,  63,  73,  78,  109, 138,  180,  192, 
197,  201,  210,  250,  286. 

Installation  of 21 

Resignation    of 57 

Sammis,  T.  A 92,  loi,  285 

Schucknecht,  Mrs.  M.  F 149,  153 

Sedgewick,   Charles   S 68 

Shiloh   Presbyterian   Church 96, 98 

Shryock,  Mrs.  Harriet 160,  263 

Shulean,  Miss  N.  S 148,  247 

Sidle,   H.   G 40,  52,  59,  92 

Sidle,  Mrs.  H.  G 136,  250 

Sidle,  J.  K 52 

Sidle,  Mrs.  Margaret  B.  (J.  K.) 14,  224,  226,  249 

Skiles,  Mrs.   Isaac 150 

Smith,  C.  V 102 

Smith,  Miss   Ann 254 

Smith,  Mrs.  Charles 2zy 

Smith,  J.  Edward 102 

Smith,  Mrs.  B.  W 144,  245 

Social  Circle,  The  Westminster 162,  254 


357 

Steele,    Gaylord i68 

Steele,  J.  A 186,285 

S'telzle,  Rev.   Charles 121 

Sterratt,  Rev.  J 3 

S'tewart,   Rev.   Daniel 50,  69 

Stewart  Memorial  Presbyterian  Church 96 

Stimson,  Rev.  H.  A 50 

Strong,    Rev.    Robert. .  15, 16,  108, 126,  127,  180, 190,  201,  228,  233, 

Installed    15 

Resigned    18 

Stough,  Mrs.  Mary 229,  249 

Stuart,    Mrs.    Mary 94 

Tenney,   William   M 57,  59,  68,  76,  92,  96,  130,  209,  214,  307 

Tenney,  Mrs.  William  M 143, 150, 151, 155,  252 

Terry,    Mrs.    LuElla   H 147,151,152,253 

Thayer,    Rev.    Charles 2,  9, 176, 185,  280,  281,  285 

Thomas,  John  W 285 

Thompson,      Charles      T . .  57,  59,  61,  63,  72,  78,  82,  84,  92,  93,  96, 
130,  173,  178,  187,285,301. 

Thompson,  Mrs.  Charles  T 163,  255,  307 

Thompson,  L.  K 102, 131,  309 

Tomlinson,  R.  B.,  Jr 131,  285,  301,  309 

Torrance,    Ell 96 

Tousley,    O.   V 31,  52,  129,  305 

Trustees  of  Church — First  Election 6 

—Roll  of 330 

— Present    Board 325 

Tucker,  Charles  B „ 285 

Twelfth  Street  Church— Begun 68 

— Corner  stone  laid 69 

— Occupied    77 

— Dedicated     77 

Van  Anda,  Rev.  C.  A 51 

VanCleve,  Mrs.  Charlotte  O 141 


358 

Vanderburgh,    Charles    E 16,40,45,101,127,129,249,304 

Vanderburgh  Memorial  Church '. 91 

Van  Tuyl,  C.  W 171,285 

Varney,    Miss    Eliza 28,  235 

Wolford,   Miss   Etta 224 

Wolf ord,    Mrs.    Pete.r 224 

Wagner,  D.  R 323 

Wagner,  Mrs.  D.  R 253 

Wagner,  H.  W 49,  52,  207,  235,  237,  249 

Wagner,  Mrs.  H.  W 207,  234,  238,  249,  251 

Walker,  Mrs.  Noah 224 

Walker,   Noah 226 

Walker,  Mrs.  John 224 

Walker,    John 226 

Ward,  Rev.  W.  S 123 

Ware,  E.  K 45 

Weir,  Mrs.   H.  S ISS,  260 

Weld,  Rev.  Benjamin  R 123 

Weld,  Miss  Helen 273 

Wesley,  M.  E.  Church 63 

Westminster  Fellowship 172 

Whitmore,  Mrs.   E.   E 144,  199,  245 

Whitney,  Rev.  J.  C 96 

Williams,  Joseph    C 222,  302 

Williams.  Mrs.   Joseph   C 5,  125,  222,  224,  226 

Williams,  Miss  E.  M 5,125 

Williams,  Mrs.  John  G 224 

Williams,  Joshua    129,  207,  221,  232,  235,  248,  303,  304 

Williams,  Miss    Alice 224 

Williams,  Louis    H 5,9,45,46,125,221,282 

Williams,  Mrs.    Louis    H 5,  125,  224,  226 

Williams,  Samuel    M 45,  loi,  129,  302 

Williams,  Mrs.  E.  S' 144,  240,  276 

Williams,  Stephen    B 61 


359 

Wilson,  Eugene  M 6,  48,  126,  13S,  226 

Wilson,  Mrs.   E.  B '. 150 

Winston,  Mrs.  W.  O 307 

Winston,  Mrs.  S.  P.  B 249 

Wishar d,  George  W 285 

Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society 138 

Missionaries  Aid  Society 144,  240 

Woman's   Home  Missionary  Society 146 

Woman's  Sewing  Society , 133 

Woodhrull,  S.  C 171 

Woodruff,  H.  S' 176 

Woods,  Rev.  H.  C 50 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association 64 


PrJ","top  Theological  Seminary  Libraries 


1    1012  01217  2039 


-/ 


i\ 


'•flA       V 


V 


'-<.. 


